A record 806,043 New Zealanders have already voted, two days ahead of Saturday’s election. The advance voting statistics from the Electoral Commission show that by this day three years ago, 717,579 people have been to the polls. And by this stage in the election run-up in 2011, a total of just 334,558 votes had been cast. The numbers do not include overseas votes. A staggering 133,781 people voted yesterday alone, in what has been one of the most hotly-contested general elections in years. The release last night of the latest 1 News Colmar Brunton poll, conducted from September 16-19, saw National arrest a slide in the polls to rise six points to 46 per cent. Labour was down seven points to 37 per cent.
Although advance voting statistics are being collected, votes will not be counted until Saturday. Statistics are not available by electorate until after election day.
The 2014 election saw a 77.90 per cent turnout of enrolled voters.
Based on the growth of advance voting over the last two elections, as many as half of voters may vote before election day this year.
Full Article: Record numbers of advance voters ahead of 2017 general election – NZ Herald.