# Election 2026 Results Delayed Until November 27

> New Zealand's election results won't be finalised until November 27 due to special votes and recounts.
- Title: Election 2026 Results Delayed Until November 27 · NZ Herald
- Summary: New Zealand's election results won't be finalised until November 27 due to special votes and recounts.
- Keywords: new zealand, election 2026, electoral commission, special votes, recount, parliament, national party, act party, new zealand first, opportunity party, list seats, one-seat majority
- Source: NZ Herald — https://nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/election-2026-why-the-final-results-wont-be-released-until-november-27/NL2IIK6MN5ABXMTUVBIV6MBFVQ
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: new zealand, election 2026, electoral commission, special votes, recount, parliament, national party, act party, new zealand first, opportunity party, list seats, one-seat majority
## Election Results Delay
New Zealand's Electoral Commission will release final election results on November 27 after processing 400,000 special votes and conducting nationwide recounts.
## Preliminary Results
Preliminary results show National, Act and New Zealand First clinging to a one-seat majority in a projected 131-seat Parliament.
## Special Votes Processing
About 400,000 special votes will need to be processed and scrutinised before they’re combined with ordinary votes.
## Special Vote Requirements
Special votes include those cast overseas, outside a person’s home electorate or by people not listed on the printed roll.
## Recount Process
The Electoral Commission will confirm the final results on November 27 following a series of checks and a nationwide recount.
## Chief Electoral Officer
Chief electoral officer Karl Le Quesne says there were some disruptive individuals on election day, but nothing more than expected.
## Timeline for Final Results
The Electoral Commission will confirm the final results on November 27 following a series of checks and a nationwide recount.
## Overseas Votes
Overseas votes are still being accepted, with the law allowing 10 days for their return, which limits how quickly the results can be finalised.
## Double Voting Check
Electoral rolls are scanned to identify and investigate potential double voting.
## Ineligible Ballots
Once ineligible ballots are excluded and the remaining votes counted, the commission must tally the results and complete quality assurance checks before declaring the official outcome.
## Staff Workload
Le Quesne said staff were working across the country to complete their checklist 'as soon as possible'.
## No Advance Release
Le Quesne ruled out an advance release when appearing on Ryan Bridge TODAY earlier this week.
## Reason for Delay
Le Quesne said: 'We’ve set the 27th because that’s the time we need to do all the checks we have to do'.

> we’ve set the 27th because that’s the time we need to do all the checks we have to do
## Trust in Results
Le Quesne said: 'We think it’s really important we get those done really well, because people need to trust the result that we get out.'

> we think it’s really important we get those done really well, because people need to trust the result that we get out
## Historical Context
In 2023, National lost two of the four electorate seats that changed hands between election night and the official results.
## Potential Government Shift
A shift of just two seats away from the governing parties could deprive them of their projected majority, giving Opportunity’s seven MPs a decisive role in forming the next Government.
## Key takeaway

New Zealand's Electoral Commission will release final election results on November 27 after processing 400,000 special votes and conducting nationwide recounts.