WELLINGTON (NEW ZEALAND) – Advance voting began in New Zealand on Friday with Prime Minister and ruling Labour Party leader Jacinda Ardern most likely to get a second term in office as she rides on the wave of her successful handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Voters can make use of 450 advance voting booths set up across the country in the lead-up to election day on Oct. 17.
According to the election commission, advance voting is becoming more popular and it accounted for 47% of all votes in 2017. This time it could go up to 60%.
Ardern said in a Facebook post that she voted early on Saturday.
“Voting opens today! We got in nice and early, you should too! No lines, lots of space, quick and easy,” she said in her post.
Her Facebook page featured a photo showing Ardern and her partner, Clarke Gayford, walking into a polling booth.
Residents of New Zealand are also voting on two hot-button topics – legalising recreational cannabis and euthanasia.
The Labour Party, which has tied up with the Greens and the nationalist New Zealand First party is locking horns with conservative National Party.
Ardern, 40, has won support in the country and abroad for her response to the mosque attacks and a volcanic eruption.
In case her high ratings translate into votes, Labour would be in a position to form the government on its own. However, a recent poll hinted that she might need a coalition partner as her rival National Party leader Judith Collins is slowly garnering support.
Preliminary results will be announced on Oct 17.
