From NZ Herald · · 1m 50s
Election 2026: Early voting soars above 2023 levels
Early voting in New Zealand surges 31.6% over 2023 as enrolment rules spark debate.
In brief
Early voting in New Zealand surges 31.6% over 2023 as enrolment rules spark debate. New Zealand's early voting reached 309,876 ballots by Wednesday, 31.6% more than 2023, amid concerns over new enrolment rules. Originally reported by NZ Herald.
Early voting surge
Hundreds of thousands of Kiwis cast ballots in first three days of early voting.
Early voting numbers
309,876 early votes cast between Labour Day and Wednesday, 31.6% more than 2023.
Enrolment rules change
New rules prevent voter enrolment updates 13 days before election after midnight deadline.
Previous enrolment rules
Voters could update details until day before election by special vote in 2020 and 2023.
Current enrolment rate
93.5% of eligible voters enrolled, including 73.8% aged 18 to 24.
Enrolment gap
263,000 eligible voters not enrolled, though exact impact on turnout unclear.
National poll result
National party at 24.8% in recent poll, below 2020 level of 25.6%.
Labour party poll
Labour party leads at 30.6% in recent poll, Green Party at 14.5%.
Opportunity party
Opportunity party at 7.2%, key kingmaker for major parties.
Te Pāti Māori
Te Pāti Māori at 1.9%, smallest party in recent poll.
Andrew Little
Wellington mayor Andrew Little begins first year of office after landslide win.
Enrolment concerns
Phil Goff warns election outcome too close to call due to enrolment changes.
National party response
National leader Christopher Luxon warns of 'dire consequences' of Labour victory.
Chris Hipkins
Chris Hipkins calls National leader 'desperate and diminished'.
AJ Wilderland
AJ Wilderland, Opportunity's co-founder, bankrolls party despite non-political stance.
Opportunity strategy
Opportunity aims to negotiate with multiple parties without big donor influence.
The short version
New Zealand's early voting reached 309,876 ballots by Wednesday, 31.6% more than 2023, amid concerns over new enrolment rules.
