In this guide
How many people vote is one of the big stories of any election night. In New Zealand, turnout is usually measured as the share of enrolled voters who cast a vote. By that measure it peaked at 93.7% in 1984, fell to a low of 74.2% in 2011, rose to 82.2% in 2020 and was 78.2% in 2023.
Quick answer
- 2023 turnout: 78.2% of enrolled voters, with 2,883,412 votes cast.
- Highest since 1984: 93.7%, at the 1984 snap election.
- Lowest since 1984: 74.2%, in 2011.
- 2026 enrolment: nearly 3.8 million people, about 93.6% of those eligible.
- 2026 early signs: advance voting is running well ahead of 2023.
Turnout of enrolled voters, 1984 to 2023
- 198493.7%
- 198789.1%
- 199085.2%
- 199385.2%
- 199688.3%
- 199984.1%
- 200277.0%
- 200580.9%
- 200879.5%
- 201174.2%
- 201477.9%
- 201779.8%
- 202082.2%
- 202378.2%
The long view
| Election | Turnout of enrolled | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 93.7% | Snap election called by Robert Muldoon |
| 1987 | 89.1% | |
| 1990 | 85.2% | |
| 1993 | 85.2% | MMP referendum held on the same day |
| 1996 | 88.3% | First MMP election |
| 1999 | 84.1% | |
| 2002 | 77.0% | Early election in July |
| 2005 | 80.9% | Close Labour and National race |
| 2008 | 79.5% | |
| 2011 | 74.2% | Lowest since the 1880s |
| 2014 | 77.9% | |
| 2017 | 79.8% | |
| 2020 | 82.2% | Record advance voting |
| 2023 | 78.2% | 20.9% of votes were special votes |
Why turnout falls and rises
Researchers and the Electoral Commission point to several factors:
- Competitiveness. Close races, like 2005, tend to bring more people out. Elections seen as foregone conclusions often see lower turnout.
- Age. Younger people vote at lower rates than older people, and that gap has been a feature of every recent election.
- Mobility. People who move often are less likely to be correctly enrolled, which affects renters and younger people.
- Convenience. More advance voting places and days have made it easier to vote, though they mostly shift when people vote rather than whether they vote.
- Enrolment rules. Election day enrolment, introduced for 2020, let late enrollers vote. It was abolished for 2026. See what changed for 2026.
Turnout vs enrolment
Two numbers are often confused.
- Enrolment rate: the share of eligible people who are enrolled. For 2026, nearly 3.8 million people were enrolled, about 93.6% of those eligible, compared with a final 94.7% in 2023 and 94.1% in 2020.
- Turnout: the share of enrolled people who vote. This is the headline figure.
So 78.2% turnout in 2023 meant roughly three in four eligible adults voted.
Advance votes at the last three elections
- 20171,240,740
- 20201,976,996
- 20231,368,830
What to watch in 2026
- Early voting pace. 309,876 people voted in the first three days of advance voting, compared with 235,515 in 2023, and almost a million had voted by the final week.
- Enrolment. Enrolment closed earlier this time, on 25 October. Fewer late enrollers could mean fewer votes overall, or people may have enrolled earlier.
- Special votes. About 700,000 are expected. They're counted after election night, so the final turnout figure isn't known until the official result on 27 November.
Turnout on election night
On the night, you'll see the number of votes counted climb. Remember:
- The election night count excludes special votes, so it will look lower than the final turnout.
- The Electoral Commission usually gives an estimated turnout with its preliminary results. In 2023 it estimated 78.4% on the night, and the official figure was 78.2%.
Questions and answers
What was voter turnout in the 2023 NZ election?
78.2% of enrolled voters, with 2,883,412 votes cast. That was down from 82.2% in 2020.
What was the highest turnout in New Zealand?
Since 1984, the highest was 93.7% at the 1984 snap election. Turnout was also very high in some earlier 20th-century elections.
What was the lowest turnout in New Zealand?
In recent decades, 74.2% in 2011, the lowest since the 1880s.
How many people are enrolled for the 2026 election?
Nearly 3.8 million, about 93.6% of eligible voters.
When will we know 2026 turnout?
An estimate comes with the preliminary results on election night. The final figure comes with the official result on 27 November.
Sources
- Electoral Commission: 1853–2017 general elections.
- Election and Referendum 2011, official results: 2011 and 2008 turnout.
- 2023 preliminary results release: 2023 estimate.
- Electoral Commission: 2023 official turnout and 2026 enrolment.
This guide is general information about New Zealand elections, checked against the sources linked above on 3 November 2026. For anything about your own enrolment or vote, check vote.nz or call the Electoral Commission on 0800 36 76 56.
Keep reading
Advance voting 2026: dates, where to vote and the record early turnout
Advance voting for New Zealand's 2026 election runs from 26 October to 6 November. Here's how it works, where to vote early, and how this year's turnout compares.
What changed for 2026: the Electoral Amendment Act 2025 explained
Enrolment now closes 13 days before election day, there's no election day enrolment, and prisoners can't vote. Here's every change in the 2025 law and what it means for you.
A short history of New Zealand elections, 1853 to 2026
From 37 seats elected by property-owning men in 1853 to MMP and record early voting: the milestones, firsts and turning points in 170 years of New Zealand elections.