When is the next general election?

The next general election will be held in 2014.

When can I vote?

Polling places are open for voting from 9.00am to 7.00pm on election day.

If you are going to be outside of your electorate on election day, you can vote in advance.

How many votes do I have?

Everyone has two votes.  Both of these votes are made on the same voting paper, which is called a ballot paper.

Your party vote is for the political party you most want to be represented in Parliament.

Your electorate vote is for the candidate you most want to represent your electorate.

How do I cast my vote?

On election day go to a polling place.

If you enrol a month before election day you will be sent an EasyVote information pack in the mail.  This pack will include a list of advance voting places and polling places that are close to where you live.

If you have received an EasyVote card or a letter from the Electoral Commission Chief Electoral Officer, take this with you.  You can vote without an EasyVote card or letter, but it will take longer.

When you go to the polling place, give your EasyVote card or letter to the issuing officer.  If you don't have an EasyVote card or letter, you will need to tell the issuing officer your full name and address.

The issuing officer will give you your ballot paper.  Take your ballot paper to a private booth.  On your ballot paper, place a tick by the name of the political party you most want represented in Parliament and a tick by the name of the candidate you would most like to represent your electorate.  You can view a sample ballot paper.

How do I cast my vote from overseas?

Voters who are overseas will be able to obtain their voting papers in one of the following ways:

• Download their voting papers from www.elections.org.nz
• Apply to the Electoral Commission for postal voting papers
• Vote in person at an overseas post

Voters who are overseas will be able to return their voting papers in one of the following ways:

• Fax their voting papers to the Electoral Commission (+64 4 494 2300)
• Post or courier their voting papers to the Electoral Commission
• Post, courier or hand deliver their voting papers to their nearest overseas post

How are my votes counted?

From 3.00pm on election day, votes cast before election day are counted.  The results of advance votes will be announced on election night.

At 7.00pm on election day, the polling places close and the votes cast on that day are counted. 

The preliminary results for the election will be announced on election night.  These results do not include any special declaration votes that are cast in the election.

The official count process starts on the Sunday after election day.  The preliminary results are rechecked and special declaration votes are checked and counted.

What if I won't be in my electorate on election day?

You can vote before election day at an advance voting place from two and a half weeks before election day.

What if I can't get to a polling place on election day?

You can vote before election day with an advance vote.

If you cannot cast an advance vote, you can make a special vote.

When will I know the result of the election?

Preliminary results will be available progressively on election night.  The Electoral Commission's target is to have 50% of polling place results available by 10.00pm on election night and 100% of polling place results available by 11.30pm. 

The official result for the election will be announced once special declaration votes have been counted and checked two weeks after election day.

Where can I find out about the election results?

Results for the election will be available in real time at www.electionresults.govt.nz.

News media and news websites are also likely to provide coverage of the results.

Where can I go for more information?

You can:

• check the information on this website
• call 0800 36 76 56
• Contact the Electoral Commission.