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Wellington, October 12, 2020
The Electoral Commission has released its latest statistics on voter numbers in the final weekend before the election.
With more than 700,000 votes cast before Saturday, October 10, 2020, the Commission said that it was expecting numbers to top a million by this morning, a more than 50% increase on the last election in both the general and Māori electorates on 2017.
Underestimated figures
Those numbers appear to have been slightly underestimated with 453,426 votes over the weekend – more than 250,000 on Saturday alone.
The Commission had predicted about 60% of voters would do so early this election, but those initial expectations now appear likely to fall short of the reality.
A total 1,240,740 people voted early in the 2017 election, accounting for just under half of all votes.
With just six days to go until election day, it seems a large proportion of the population has already decided.
Labour leader Jacinda Ardern said that the high level of advance voting is positive, and shows New Zealanders are leaving nothing to chance for election day.
Positive indication
“I think it also demonstrates that people are locking in their choices early this time and our hope is that they are locking it in with a plan around the future of New Zealand’s recovery and a government that’s stable and that’s what Labour is offering,” she said.
Ms Ardern would not say whether she thought the Greens would benefit from Labour voters not wanting to see a single party in power.
“I am obviously campaigning for a strong Labour mandate, for a strong recovery, and that is what I will continue to do right up until polling day,” she said.
National Leader Judith Collins said that she is not worried that the early voting would not favour her Party.
She was asked how many votes from the first million she expected would be for National.
“Oh, you are just asking me, I mean obviously 999,000 or whatever it is.”
More voting stations open
There were 1350 voting stations open on Saturday and 850 on Sunday to cope with demand, the Electoral Commission said.
That number will jump to 2600 on election day.
Electoral Commission Voting Services Manager Graeme Astle told Morning Report that the number of early votes was pleasing.
Mr Astle admitted that the rush of voters took his staff and volunteers by surprise but they are now keeping up with demand.
He said that the school holidays that ended last week added to the increase of early voters.
Counting and results
“Back to work this week (for parents) but we are certainly hopeful that people will continue to vote early. The trend is usually lots of people getting out closer to election day as well,” he said.
Mr Astle said that the early votes will be counted throughout election day (October 17, 2020) and the results will start rolling in at around 730 pm on that day.
“The Commission is hoping to have a voter turnout above 80%. People should bring their EasyVote Card with them when they vote to make the process quicker and easier. They can still vote without one. People who have not yet enrolled can do so at the same time as they vote,” Mr Astle said.
-Published under a Special Agreement with www.rnz.co.nz
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