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Preliminary referendum results released

Oct 30, 2020 | Media release

The Electoral Commission has released the preliminary results of the end of life choice and cannabis legalisation and control referendums.  

The preliminary results are based on the count of ordinary votes cast in advance and on election day and do not include special declaration votes.

Voters were asked, Do you support the End of Life Choice Act 2019 coming into force?

Preliminary results of the end of life choice referendum
  Votes counted % of votes
Yes, I support the End of Life Choice Act 2019 coming into force  1,574,645  65.2%
No, I do not support the End of Life Choice Act 2019 coming into force  815,829  33.8%
Informal votes  25,073  1.0%
Total votes counted so far  2,415,547  100%

 Voters were also asked, Do you support the proposed Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill?

Preliminary results of the cannabis legalisation and control referendum
  Votes counted % of votes
Yes, I support the proposed Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill  1,114,485  46.1%
No, I do not support the proposed Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill  1,281,818  53.1%
Informal votes  19,244  0.8%
Total votes counted so far  2,415,547  100%

Voters could choose to vote in one referendum, both or neither.  Informal votes are those where voting papers are either not marked or the voter’s intention is not clear.

The official referendum results, which will include special votes, will be released with the official results of the 2020 General Election on Friday 6 November. On election night, the number of special votes was estimated to be 480,000 (17% of total votes).

The preliminary results are available online at https://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2020_preliminary/referendums-results.html

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