With New Zealand’s general election just days away, voters are preparing to decide who will represent them in Parliament and which parties will form the next government.
But with two votes on the ballot paper and several parties competing for seats, understanding how the system works can be confusing.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of November 7.
How does the election work?
New Zealand uses a voting system called Mixed Member Proportional, or MMP.
Introduced in 1996, the system is designed to make Parliament reflect the way people vote across the country.
Rather than choosing just one candidate, voters get two votes: a party vote and an electorate vote.
What’s the difference between the two votes?
The party vote is for the political party you want represented in Parliament. This vote is a main factor in determining how many seats each party receives.
According to Elections NZ, parties with a bigger share of the party vote get more seats in Parliament. Parties also try to win as many electorate seats as possible.
The electorate vote is for the individual candidate you want representing your local area. The candidate who wins the most votes in an electorate wins that seat.
The votes can be for different parties. For example, someone could give their party vote to National or Labour and give their electorate vote to a Green party candidate to represent their area.
How many seats does a party need?
Parliament has 120 seats, meaning 61 MPs are needed for a majority.
A party does not have to win 61 seats by itself. It can negotiate with other parties to form a government through a coalition or a support agreement.
To qualify for seats in Parliament, a party must receive at least five per cent of the nationwide party vote or win an electorate seat.
This is why smaller parties can have a significant influence on who forms the next government.
What does an overhang mean?
An overhang occurs when a party wins more electorate seats than its share of the party vote would normally give it.
For example, if a party qualifies for six seats through its party vote but wins seven electorates, it keeps all seven MPs.
Parliament then gains an extra seat to accommodate the additional MP, rather than taking one away from another party.
Why is this year’s election so close?
Recent polls from 1News and Radio New Zealand have produced different ideas of how the next Parliament could look, with neither National nor Labour clearly securing enough support to govern alone.
This makes the smaller parties particularly important. Under MMP, National and Labour may need support from other parties to reach the 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority.
New Zealand First, ACT, the Greens and the Opportunity Party could all influence which parties are able to form a government.
For example, if National does not win enough seats alongside ACT, it may need New Zealand First's support to reach a majority. On the other side, Labour could need the Greens and other potential parties.
That gives smaller parties influence during coalition negotiations, where they can seek agreements on policies in return for supporting a government.
Ultimately, it may not be the party with the most votes that determines the next government, but which parties can find enough common ground to work together.
How and when can people vote?
Election day is Saturday, November 7, with voting places open from 9am to 7pm. Advance voting is also open this week.
More information about enrolment, voting locations and eligibility is available through the Electoral Commission at elections.nz
