Voters have voted yes in supporting the end of life choice referendum and no for the cannabis legalisation and control referendum.
The Electoral Commission has just 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?
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Preliminary results of the end of life choice referendum |
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Votes counted |
% of votes |
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Yes, I support the End of Life Choice Act 2019 coming into force |
1,574,645 |
65.2% |
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No, I do not support the End of Life Choice Act 2019 coming into force |
815,829 |
33.8% |
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Informal votes |
25,073 |
1.0% |
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Total votes counted so far |
2,415,547 |
100% |
Voters were also asked, Do you support the proposed Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill?
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Preliminary results of the cannabis legalisation and control referendum |
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Votes counted |
% of votes |
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Yes, I support the proposed Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill |
1,114,485 |
46.1% |
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No, I do not support the proposed Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill |
1,281,818 |
53.1% |
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Informal votes |
19,244 |
0.8% |
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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 November 6. On election night, the number of special votes was estimated to be 480,000 (17 per cent of total votes).
The preliminary results are available online
Minister of Justice Andrew Little has acknowledged the provisional results of the two referendums voted on in the 2020 General Election.
New Zealanders were asked whether they supported the proposed Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill, and whether they supported the End of Life Choice Act 2019 coming into force.
On provisional results, the electorate has voted in support of the End of Life Choice referendum, and against the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill becoming law.
The End of Life Choice Act has gone through the parliamentary process and has been given Royal Assent, so it will come into effect 12 months from the final results – on 6 November 2021.
Assisted dying remains illegal in New Zealand until November 6, 2021. The Act will be administered by the Ministry of Health.
The Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill will not be introduced as legislation by the Labour Government this term.
Subject to the release of the final results on November 6, the incoming government will respect the result of both referendums. This will mean that recreational cannabis use will remain illegal in New Zealand.
Final referendum results are due to be released on Friday 6 November with the official election results.
