Politics1 min read

New Zealanders head to polls on final day of voting

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The general election race hinges on key voter priorities, with National offering pension expansions alongside budget surpluses and Labour targeting cheaper transport and healthcare. Over 1.6 million advance ballots were submitted out of nearly 3.8 million eligible voters before regular voting hours commenced. Election officials plan to process preliminary results covering 95 percent of voting locations before the night ends. The complete, finalized tally will incorporate overseas votes and arrive by November 27.

Key points

  • Neither major political party is projected to win an outright parliamentary majority unde…: Neither major political party is projected to win an outright parliamentary majority under the mixed-member proportional voting system.
  • Preliminary results accounting for 95 percent of all voting sites are expected to be publ…: Preliminary results accounting for 95 percent of all voting sites are expected to be published by the end of Saturday night.
  • Official election outcomes that include all overseas ballots will be finalized and releas…: Official election outcomes that include all overseas ballots will be finalized and released by November 27.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

More than half of New Zealand’s voters cast early ballots in the tightly contested race.

Polls have opened on the final day of voting in New Zealand against a backdrop of concerns over the rising cost of living and the broader state of the economy.

Polling stations opened at 9am on Saturday (20:00 GMT Friday) and close at 7pm (06:00 GMT Saturday).

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Voting already began on October 26. More than 1.6 million voters, out of nearly 3.8 million in total, had cast their ballots by the end of Thursday, according to the country’s Electoral Commission.

The country has strict laws banning any talk of politics on election day.

The 19-hour election day blackout, which ends when polling places close on Saturday evening, bars everyone, including political parties, news outlets…

Politics