More than half of New Zealand voters cast early ballots in this hotly contested race.
Published on November 6, 2026
Polling stations opened on the final day of voting in New Zealand amid concerns over the rising cost of living and the general state of the economy.
Polling stations opened at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday (Friday 8:00 p.m. GMT) and closed at 7:00 p.m. (Saturday 06:00 GMT).
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Voting already started on October 26. More than 1.6 million voters, out of nearly 3.8 million in total, had voted by the end of Thursday, according to the country’s Electoral Commission.
The country has strict laws prohibiting any political discussion on election day.
The 7 p.m. Election Day blackout, which ends when polls close Saturday evening, prohibits everyone, including political parties, media outlets and social media users, from commenting on likely election results, campaign issues and anything that might encourage or discourage people from voting in a particular way.
Billboards and advertising should be removed. Bumper stickers, T-shirts and even social media profile photos are also covered by the law.
Violations of the law can result in a fine of up to 20,000 New Zealand dollars ($11,000).
Opinion polls ahead of the hotly contested election suggest the ruling center-right National Party and the opposition center-left Labor Party are neck and neck, with neither on course to win enough seats to govern alone.
The New Zealand Electoral Commission aims to release preliminary results from 95 per cent of polling stations by the end of election night on Saturday. The final result, which will reflect votes cast by New Zealanders overseas, is expected by November 27.
New Zealand elections
Most parties campaign on the economy, but the solutions proposed differ significantly.
The National Party is committed to returning the budget to surplus through fiscal discipline while expanding the national pension scheme.
Labor focuses on the cost of living, promising cheaper healthcare and transport.
Recent polls show no clear winner. In either case, a handful of seats could decide who governs.
New Zealand holds general elections every three years under a mixed member proportional system.
Voters do not elect a leader of the country but rather choose a local electoral candidate and a political party.
Electorate winners gain a seat in Parliament, which typically has 120 seats, as do the highest-ranking party members based on their vote within their national party.
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