General Election - Voter Participation in New Zealand

With the enrollment deadline approaching this Wednesday, 93 percent of eligible voters are enrolled for New Zealand's General Election on 8 November.

In the 2005 election, voter participation was 81 percent of all those enrolled, with 82 percent participation in the general electorates and 67 percent in Maori electorates.

Voter participation in the 2002 and 2005 elections was sharply down from the average 90.3 percent in the period between 1946 and 1999 and may indicate a greater malaise in the New Zealand electorate.

By comparison, voter turnout in US Federal elections averages only 50-55 percent of eligible voters. Compulsory voting has been required in Australia since 1924 resulting in voter turnout averaging 95 percent of eligible voters in modern national elections.