How the electorate vote works — and how it fits the party vote
You get two votes. The one on the right is your electorate vote. It elects the single MP who represents your local area. This guide explains how those MPs are chosen, the 72 electorates across New Zealand, and the crucial way an electorate win changes the party-vote maths — from list top-ups to overhang.
The electorate vote
This picks the one person who represents your local electorate in Parliament. Whoever gets the most valid votes wins — a majority is not required. It works exactly like a simple first-past-the-post contest within your area.
The party vote
The party vote (the left tick) decides each party's overall share of Parliament. Your electorate vote only decides your local MP. The two are counted separately, so you can split them — and many voters do.
How a candidate is elected
Each electorate is a separate contest. Every candidate standing in it — whether from a party or independent — is on the same ballot. On election night the valid votes are counted, and the candidate with the highest number wins. There is no second round, no preferences, and no requirement to reach 50%. A candidate can be elected on a third of the vote if the rest is split among rivals.
Votes are counted as-is. Informal papers (no clear tick, two ticks in one column) are set aside and don't count.
In the rare event of a dead heat, the result is drawn by lot under Electoral Commission rules. Special votes can still shift the outcome before the official result.
The 72 electorates
New Zealand is divided into 72 electorates: 65 general electorates and 7 Māori electorates. Your enrolled address places you in a general electorate, while voters of Māori descent choose whether to be on the general roll or the Māori roll — that choice determines which of the 72 seats you vote in. Every one of the 72 sends a single MP to Parliament.
How the electorate vote affects the party-vote result
This is where the two votes meet. Each party's total seats are set by the party vote (using the Sainte-Laguë formula). Its electorate wins are counted first; list seats then top it up to that total. An electorate win can therefore change which list candidates get in — and in some cases it changes the size of Parliament itself.
- 1The party vote nationwide sets each party's total seat entitlement.
- 2Count that party's electorate wins on the night.
- 3Fill the gap with list candidates, top of the list first.
- 4If electorate wins already meet the entitlement, no list seats are used.
- 5If electorate wins exceed the entitlement, the party keeps the extra seats — an overhang — and Parliament grows beyond 120.
A single electorate win can lift a party past the 5% threshold: winning one seat entitles it to list top-ups matching its party vote. This is how smaller parties often enter Parliament.
When a party's electorate wins outstrip its party-vote share, the surplus seats remain and Parliament grows. The more party votes that flow to under-threshold parties, the bigger the potential overhang.
What happens to your electorate vote
On your ballot, the electorate vote is the tick on the right. You choose the single person you want to represent your local area — not a party list.
There is no need for a majority. The candidate with the highest number of valid votes takes the seat, even if that is well under half the votes cast.
That person becomes the MP for your electorate until the next general election, representing everyone in the area regardless of who they voted for.
Electorate seats won are counted first, then each party is topped up from its list to reach its party-vote entitlement. Winning here can even cause an overhang.
Try the electorate simulator
Set each candidate's votes in a single electorate. Watch who wins the seat (most votes — no majority needed), then see how that one electorate win changes the party's list top-up.
| Candidate (party) | Votes | Share | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40.5% | Elected MP | |||
| 35.8% | Not elected | |||
| 12.8% | Not elected | |||
| 6.1% | Not elected | |||
| 3.1% | Not elected | |||
| 1.7% | Not elected |
Winner: NAT with 40.5% of valid votes. No majority needed — first past the post wins the seat outright.
- Threshold: Party clears 5%, so its electorate wins sit inside its entitlement.
- List top-up from this electorate: This seat is one of 1 electorates already counted; 45 list places fill the party up to 46.
Figures are illustrative for learning. Real results use exact valid counts, include special votes declared after election night, and are run by the Electoral Commission.
Common questions
Do I have to give my electorate vote to the same party as my party vote?
No. Splitting is common and entirely allowed — your electorate tick goes to a local candidate, your party tick goes to a party, and the two are counted independently.
What if a candidate wins under half the votes?
They still win. Electorate seats use first-past-the-post: the single highest tally takes the seat, with no preference voting or runoff.
How many electorates are there?
72: 65 general electorates and 7 Māori electorates. The remaining 48 of Parliament's 120 seats are list seats used to top parties up to their party-vote share.
What is the difference between the general roll and the Māori roll?
Voters of Māori descent choose which roll to be on, and that decides whether they vote in a general or a Māori electorate. Both elect the same kind of single-MP seat; the rolls only decide which electorate boundaries apply to you.
Does winning an electorate help a small party get into Parliament?
Yes. A party that wins even one electorate seat is entitled to seats matching its party vote, even below the 5% threshold — the 'electorate seat waiver'.
Can a party win electorates but get no list seats?
Yes. If its electorate wins already equal or exceed its party-vote entitlement, no list places are used. If they exceed it, the extras form an overhang and Parliament grows.
Are independent candidates able to win?
Yes. An independent with the most votes in an electorate becomes that seat's MP. They are not topped up from any list and do not affect other parties' seat counts.