Key facts
- The Electoral Commission said 913,762 votes were cast between October 26 and November 1.
- The first-week early vote count was 28% higher than the same period in the 2023 election, the commission said.
- Chief Electoral Officer Karl Le Quesne said there were six more days to vote.
- Around 600 voting places will be open daily, rising to more than 2,300 on election day, the commission said.
- New rules ended enrolment 13 days before the November 7 election, which critics argued could deter participation.
New Zealand's Electoral Commission said 913,762 ballots were cast in the first week of early voting, between October 26 and November 1, ahead of the November 7 general election. The commission said the count was 28% higher than the same period during the 2023 election.
The busiest day was Saturday, when more than 190,000 votes were issued, the commission said. "Voting has got off to a good start, and there are still six more days to vote," Chief Electoral Officer Karl Le Quesne said.
Around 600 voting places will be open daily in the week, rising to more than 2,300 on election day, according to the commission. The early turnout came after the government introduced new rules that ended enrolment 13 days before the election, which critics argued could deter participation. Polls cited in the report still showed no clear winner or coalition grouping.