New Zealand early voting opens for November general election

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 25 Oct, 22:49 · Archive

Early voting has opened in New Zealand for its 7 November general election, with a closely contested race between the ruling National Party and opposition Labour.

Early voting has opened in New Zealand for its general election on 7 November. Ballot boxes are available at shopping centres, transport hubs and community halls for nearly two weeks, with 207 voting places open on the first day and more than 2,300 expected on election day itself. Overseas voting opened on 21 October.

Public polling has shifted sharply in recent days, showing no clear frontrunner under New Zealand's mixed-member proportional system. A 1News-Verian poll published on 20 October put the ruling centre-right National Party at 32 per cent and opposition Labour at 27 per cent. However, a Post/Freshwater Strategy poll published a day earlier had Labour narrowly ahead on 28.7 per cent to National's 27.6 per cent. The smaller Opportunity party was polling around or above the five per cent threshold needed to enter parliament in both surveys, potentially making it a kingmaker in coalition negotiations.

The start of voting came hours after voter enrolment closed at midnight on Sunday. Unlike previous elections, voters can no longer enrol or update their details during the voting period. Critics say the earlier cutoff could deter participation, particularly among groups harder to reach. The Human Rights Commission warned last year that ending election-day enrolment was likely to unjustifiably restrict participation and disproportionately affect under-represented groups. As of 21 October, 3,729,667 people were enrolled to vote.

How it is being reported

• Voting opens in New Zealand for November electionParty leaders will be among the first to cast their ballots in New Zealand's general election as early voting opens in the hotly-contested race.The West Australian · 25 Oct, 22:19
• Voting opens in New Zealand for November electionParty leaders will be among the first to cast their ballots in New Zealand's general election as early voting opens in the hotly-contested race.Perth Now · 25 Oct, 22:19

In this story: New Zealand · National Party · Labour · Opportunity party · Electoral Commission · Human Rights Commission

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