Writ Day

- Governor General issues formal direction to the Electoral Commission to hold the election.
- Electoral Rolls close for printing.
- Voters enrolled after this date cast special declaration votes.
- Candidate and party television and radio advertising may start.

Bulk Nominations

Last day for registered political parties to bulk nominate their electoral candidates to the Electoral Commission.

Nominations Day

Last day for political parties to submit list candidates to the Electoral Commission.

Last day for individual nominations to Returning Officers.

Early voting starts

Advance voting starts for voters who are away from home or unable to get to a polling place on Election Day

Overseas voting starts download voting papers from www.elections.org.nz, vote by post or vote in person at overseas posts in many countries.

EasyVote Information Packs available

Information packs with EasyVote card sent to voters enrolled by 19 November.

Enrolments end

- Deadline for election enrolment.


- Advance voting ends.


- All election and referendum advertising must end and signs must be taken down.

Election Day

Polling places open between 9.00 am and 7.00 pm


Election Night - Preliminary results 7.00 pm and 11.30 pm

Results declared

Declaration of official results for General Election and referendum (target 2.00 pm)

Deadline for applications for Judicial Recount

The party secretary may apply to a District Court Judge for a recount of party votes in a particular electorate within three working days of the official result for the electorate being declared.

Return of Writ

- Last day for Return of Writ by Electoral Commission showing successful electorate candidates.
- Declaration of list members.

Last day for Parliament to meet