Early voting in the 2020 general election has attracted almost 2 million voters. Photo / Chris GormanAlmost 2 million votes have been cast in advance of this election day, a huge jump from previous early voting numbers in the 2017 and 2014 general elections. By 5pm yesterday 1,976,996 people had already voted in the 2020 general election and two referendums, after voting opened on October 3. In 2017 there were 1.24 million advance votes and just 717,579 early voters in 2014. An Electoral Commission spokeswoman said it encouraged early voting to help manage Covid-19 alert level 1 restrictions.

Source: New Zealand Herald October 17, 2020 03:22 UTC