Photo: RNZ
Explainer - What you can wear, the use of social media and encouraging other people to vote - RNZ takes a look at the rules that apply on election day.
The Electoral Commission is expecting a hugely busy final day of voting as New Zealanders have their say on the next government.
More than 2300 voting places will be open around the country on Saturday from 9am to 7pm.
Chief electoral officer Karl Le Quesne advises people if they need help finding a polling station to look at the information in their EasyVote pack, go online here or call the Electoral Commission on 0800 36 76 56.
While the process is slightly quicker if voters take their EasyVote card with them, it is not essential.
For those who haven't enrolled yet, this can also be done at the polling station ahead of casting a vote - remember you must be enrolled to vote.
"Voting places in malls have been particularly popular this election and they are expected to be busy again on Saturday. We'd like to remind people that we also have other voting places available close to home including at schools and community halls," he says.
The Electoral Commission, which manages the general election, offers enrolment information in English and 27 other languages including te reo Māori, Samoan, Tongan and Hindi.
If you're a first-time voter or maybe haven't voted for a while, the Electoral Commission (which has the job of organising every election) has a video that sets out all the steps to casting a vote.
This election there are 15 Kaupapa Māori voting places - open to everyone - with staff who can speak both te reo Māori and English. Thirty-seven voting places will be at marae.
Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch will also have one place each with New Zealand Sign Language interpreters on site.
No photos
You may be tempted to take a photo of you or a friend or family member or your voting papers during the process - don't because it would be a breach of the Electoral Act.
No photography is allowed, nor is posting anything about voting or a political party allowed to go on social media during election day (the hours it applies to are midnight on Friday through to 7pm on Saturday).
The main reason for this is so the posts don't influence the way anyone votes.
However, existing content or advertising don't have to be removed from social media although the material shouldn't be promoted on election day.
It is within the rules to tell people you have voted and encourage them to do likewise - just don't try and persuade them to vote for a particular party or candidate.
Election day rules:
- You can't display or distribute campaign material - lapel badges and rosettes are an exception
- Campaign signs and hoardings should have been removed by midnight on Friday and signs, bumpers stickers or politically themed flags need to be kept away from public view
- You can't influence voters so that means no posting to social media or websites
- Demonstrations and the use of megaphones aren't allowed
- Don't film or take photos of people or voting papers. Candidates can be filmed if they have arranged it earlier with the returning officer
- You can remind someone to vote and offer help with transport to a polling station, just don't try and persuade them who to vote for
Various organisations can offer advice or take complaints around election advertisements, editorial content and election signs. There's more information here.
If you want to do some last minute reading on where the parties stand on all the major issues, help is at hand with this extensive guide RNZ has compiled.
Election 2023: RNZ's guide to party policy
What about the weather?
It's not great for many in several parts of the country, according to MetService.
Heavy rain may affect Tasman west of Motueka, also the Buller and Grey Districts, and Westland south of Otira.
There's a strong wind watch for Wellington and Wairarapa south of Carterton almost until the polls close.
Severe norwest gales are expected in Marlborough while other parts of the South Island are also affected, including the Canterbury high country, the Canterbury plains, and Christchurch including Banks Peninsula,
Westland south of Harihari and Fiordland north of Milford Sound. Central and North Otago and Dunedin and Clutha also have strong wind watches in place for much of the day.
When will results start coming in?
Lisa Owen and Corin Dann will host RNZ's election night coverage with input from a team based all over the country. Photo: RNZ
People have been casting their votes almost two weeks before election day so from 9am today the vote count will start on those early votes.
The polls close at 7pm sharp and that's when counting starts for votes cast today.
The first results will start to be released to media very soon after 7pm and Le Quesne expects counting to be finished by around 10.30pm-11pm.
The commission expects 500,000 special votes to be cast (by people who are overseas or in other parts of the country at election time) and they will not be counted on election day because enrolment details have to be checked.
This can impact on the start of coalition negotiations and affect the number of seats parties win, Le Quesne says.
Media, including RNZ, will be reporting extensively on the results as they unfold.
Checkpoint's live election night special will be hosted by Lisa Owen, Corin Dann, Jane Patterson and reporters around the country from 7pm to midnight on Saturday, running alongside live data and blogging with electorate and party vote results on RNZ's website. RNZ Asia will also be running its own live blog in Chinese.
Results will also be available here from 7pm onwards.
Information for this article was sourced from the Electoral Commission's website.
