Everything you need to know about voting, election day rules, and what happens once the polls close, answered by the Herald.
Election day has finally arrived, with voters just hours away from learning what the next Parliament could look like for the next three years.
Polling booths across the country open at 9am, with Kiwis yet to cast their vote able to have their say until the booths close at 7pm.
Everyone enrolled to vote gets two votes: an electorate vote and a party vote.
You can vote for a party and a candidate, or only one or the other; it’s your choice.
How and where to vote?
There are more than 2300 polling stations open today across New Zealand. The Herald has an interactive map below to help you find your closest one.
MetService is advising those heading out to vote, particularly in the North Island, to be mindful of thunderstorms and downpours, which are expected to continue until about 11am.
The Electoral Commission says you do not need to take ID to vote and is reminding people they will not be able to enrol at a voting place this election.
When you arrive at a marked booth, someone will guide you and answer your questions.
You are advised to give your EasyVote card, in either paper or digital form, to the person issuing voting papers, who will find your name on the electoral roll and give you a voting paper.
If you don’t have an EasyVote card, you’ll be asked for your name and address.
If your name is not on the printed roll at a voting place, you’ll need to fill out a “special declaration vote” form before you can vote.
Once you get your voting paper, you will take it to a voting screen where you can vote privately.
If you make a mistake, you can take your “spoilt” voting paper back and ask for another.
When you’ve finished marking your voting paper, fold it in half and put it into the appropriate ballot box.
When will we know the election result?
After 7pm on election night, the Electoral Commission will publish preliminary results for each party and electorate candidate.
The preliminary results give an early idea of how parties and candidates have fared before the final count is complete.
From 7pm, when voting closes, the Herald will bring you live results, interactive graphics, exclusive interviews and expert analysis.
Plus, you can watch the NZ Herald Election Night Special hosted by Ryan Bridge with Katie Bradford. For the best experience, follow it all in the new NZ Herald app.
Our leading political journalists, including Thomas Coughlan and Audrey Young, will unpack key moments, the winners and losers, and what the results could mean.
The Chief Electoral Office must post final official results 20 days after election day, on Friday, November 27.
Electorate candidates and party secretaries can apply for a recount.
Every candidate who wins an electorate gets a seat in Parliament.
The remaining seats are filled from party lists according to the share of the party vote each party receives.
The political party or group of parties with the most seats becomes the Government, often after a period of negotiation.
What can’t you do on election day?
On election day, you are no longer allowed to do any campaigning or anything that could influence voters.
This includes signs, demonstrations and posts on social media.
There is no exemption for “the expression of personal political views online”, according to the Electoral Commission.
Under the Electoral Act 1993, interfering with or influencing voters can lead to a fine of up to $20,000.
You are not required to remove existing material on websites or social media as long as you don’t update or advertise it on election day, or repost old material.
Publishing photos or videos of someone filling out their ballot is also considered a potential offence.
Campaigning is not allowed near polling places because doing anything anywhere that might influence voters is forbidden until the polls close.