5.1 Preliminary results – election night

After the polling place closes at 7pm on polling day and all voters have left, the manager of every polling place carries out the preliminary count of votes in the presence of scrutineers and polling place officials.  

The ballot boxes are opened and the votes are counted.  Special votes are not opened and must wait for the Official Count. The result is phoned in to the Returning Officer and it is then input into the Electoral Commission’s National Election Results System. Results are displayed in real time on www.electionresults.govt.nz. The Electoral Commission’s target is to have 50% of polling place results available by 9pm on election night and 100% of polling place results available by 10pm.  

5.2 Advance votes

Advance votes are cast in the 17 days before polling day.  Advance votes (other than advance special votes) may be counted from 3pm onwards on polling day at the Returning Officer’s headquarters if the Returning Officer can provide appropriate security. Officials and scrutineers in the secure area must stay there until 7pm. The Electoral Commission’s target is to have advance vote results available by 7.30pm. 

5.3 Official results

The official results are compiled in the Returning Officer’s headquarters by following a logical and meticulous process which starts the day after polling day. Electoral rolls are scrutinised to identify voters who have voted more than once, and to compile a list of all people who have voted (the Master Roll). All votes counted on election night are recounted and checked to ensure accuracy. The Returning Officer checks the validity of all special vote declaration forms and the names of special voters against the electoral rolls and the list of late enrolments for the district. If the special voter is eligible to make a special vote and the voter’s name is found the vote will be counted.

If a name cannot be found, the declaration form is forwarded to the Registrar of Electors to check the voting qualification of the special voter. If the Registrar can confirm that the voter is enrolled in the electorate, the vote will be counted.

The official results process starts on the Sunday after polling day but cannot be completed until after the last legal day for receiving special votes including votes from Returning Officers overseas (10 days after polling day).

5.4 Declaration of official result

The Electoral Commission’s target is to declare the official results of the by-election 11 days after polling day, subject to any recount applications. The Electoral Commission will then publish a notice in the Gazette. 

The results will also be available at www.electionresults.govt.nz.

5.5 Judicial recounts

After the declaration of the official results, candidates can apply to a District Court Judge for a recount of the electorate vote.

• made within three working days of the declaration of the result, and
• accompanied by a deposit of $1,000 (inclusive of GST).

If you wish to seek a recount the Electoral Commission will advise you of the process to be followed.

5.6 Election petitions

The only way to challenge the election of an electorate candidate is through an election petition. A petition may be brought by a voter or a candidate and is heard by three High Court Judges. It must be brought within 28 days of the Electoral Commission declaring the official result.