The Electoral Commission has dismissed concerns about election day voting options in rural parts of New Zealand. In a statement, it said reports of an increasing number of closures in remote areas “are not correct”, with the closure of some advance voting sites on election day not unusual. There are 265 voting places only open during advance voting this election, compared with 230 in 2020 and 305 in 2017, said a spokesperson.

“There are changes to voting place locations in urban and rural regions every election determined by factors including the availability of locations, staffing levels, and local demand. Some voting places are open just during advance voting, others are open during advance voting and on election day, and others are open just on election day,” said the chief electoral officer, Karl Le Quesne.

The Commission has separately reported 83,429 advance votes cast yesterday, bringing the total advance tally so far to just over 370,000, amounting to more than 10% of the 3.4 million people on the electoral roll.