Polling booths open until 7pm

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

The country’s 2300-plus polling booths close at 7pm tonight.

By the end of Wednesday, nearly one million (970,818) ordinary votes had been cast.

That compares to 1,565,056 votes up to the comparable day in 2020, and 806,380 votes  on the same day in 2017.

Last Saturday, October 7, has been the most popular day for voting in the 2023 general election with 132,282 votes cast on that day.

The next most popular days have been Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week (with Thursday figures not yet available) with 115,458, 120,331 and 127,774 votes cast respectively.

Electoral Commission chief electoral officer Karl Le Quesne is encouraging people to vote.

“It’s important that you have your say on who represents you in Parliament for the next three years,” he said.  “Saturday is your final chance to enrol, vote and be heard.

“Many people have got out early to vote, but there are still a lot who haven’t, and we don’t want them to miss out.”

Voters who have their EasyVote card should take it with them to make voting faster, but people can vote without one.

“If you’re not enrolled yet, you can enrol and vote at the same time at any voting place,” Mr LeQuesne said.

People can check where their closest voting place is online at vote.nz or by calling 0800 36 76 56.

The preliminary results of the general election will be released progressively after voting closes at 7pm.

Results will be available at electionresults.govt.nz