A New Zealand ballot paper has two halves. On the left is the party vote, where you tick one party. That decides how many seats each party gets in Parliament. On the right is the electorate vote, where you tick one person to be the local MP for your area. You make one tick on each side, and the two votes are counted separately.
A New Zealand ballot paper has two halves. On the left is the party vote, where you tick one party. That decides how many seats each party gets in Parliament. On the right is the electorate vote, where you tick one person to be the local MP for your area. You make one tick on each side, and the two votes are counted separately.
Left side: party vote. One tick for one party.
Right side: electorate vote. One tick for one candidate.
You can choose a party and a candidate from different parties.
Ticking more than one box on a side means that vote cannot be counted.
Nobody can see how you voted. The paper goes into a sealed box.
Every registered party is listed in the same order across the whole country. The number of party votes each party gets decides its share of the 120 seats in Parliament, as long as it gets at least 5% or wins an electorate.
This side is different in every electorate, because it lists the people standing in your area. Some stand for a party and some stand on their own as independents. Whoever gets the most votes becomes the local MP.
If you make a mistake, you can ask for a new ballot paper. The spoiled one is destroyed so nobody can read it.
Use the pen provided and tick inside the circle.
Do not write your name anywhere on the paper.
Fold the paper so your ticks cannot be seen, then put it in the box.
Can I vote for a party and a candidate from a different party?
Yes. This is called splitting your vote and many people do it.
Do I have to use both votes?
No. You can use just one, and it still counts.
Why is my electorate side different from my cousin's?
Because you live in different electorates, with different local candidates.