New Zealanders are heading to the polls to elect a new government, three years after the last election. The country’s electoral commission has reported that nearly 3.8 million people have enrolled to vote, with more than 40% of that number having already cast their ballots before election day.

New Zealand’s electoral system, known as Mixed Member Proportional (MMP), requires voters to cast two votes – one for a candidate and the other for a political party. This system, introduced in 1996, has only produced one majority government to date.

As the nation awaits the closing of polls and the release of results, data on overseas voters has revealed some interesting trends. New Zealanders living abroad are eligible to vote if they are over 18 and have visited New Zealand in the last three years, subject to a few other conditions.

According to the electoral commission, approximately 126,000 enrolled voters are based abroad this election, a significant increase from the 92,600 recorded in 2023. Unsurprisingly, given the close geographical proximity and the fact that New Zealanders have the right to live and work in Australia, 64% of those enrolled overseas are located in Australia.

The top five countries where New Zealand expats are voting from are Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Germany. These statistics highlight the global reach of New Zealand’s electoral process and the importance of engaging with citizens living abroad.

As the election unfolds, the world will be watching to see which party or coalition emerges victorious and forms the next government of New Zealand. The high voter enrollment numbers and the significant proportion of overseas voters demonstrate the strong democratic engagement of the New Zealand population, both at home and abroad.