About the referendums

At this year’s general election, you can also vote in two referendums: the End of Life choice and cannabis legalisation and control referendums. You vote by answering the referendum questions with a ‘Yes’ or a ‘No’.

End of Life Choice referendum

In this referendum, you can vote on whether the End of Life Choice Act 2019 should come into force. The Act would give people with a terminal illness the option of requesting assisted dying.

The referendum question is:

Do you support the End of Life Choice Act 2019 coming into force?

You can choose 1 of these 2 answers:

Yes, I support the End of Life Choice Act 2019 coming into force.

No, I do not support the End of Life Choice Act 2019 coming into force.

Learn more about the End of Life Choice referendum at referendums.govt.nz.

Cannabis legalisation and control referendum

In this referendum, you can vote on whether the recreational use of cannabis should become legal.

The referendum question is:

Do you support the proposed Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill?

You can choose 1 of these 2 answers:

Yes, I support the proposed Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill

No, I do not support the proposed Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill

Learn more about the cannabis legalisation and control referendum at referendums.govt.nz.

You’ll get a referendum voting paper at your voting place

At your voting place, you’ll get a voting paper for the referendums with your voting paper for the election.

Vote by ticking your answers to the referendum questions

You vote by placing a tick next to your answer to each referendum question on your voting paper. You can answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.

Voting in the referendums is optional

You only need to vote in the referendums if you want to, but this is an opportunity for you to have your say on two important issues. You can also choose to vote in only one referendum if you want to.

Enrolled voters will get brochures about the referendums

Brochures on the referendums will be included with the Enrolment Update and EasyVote packs, which will be sent to all enrolled voters in July and late August.

More information is available

The official website for information about the referendums is referendums.govt.nz. This website can tell you what is being proposed for each referendum, so you can feel confident that you know what you’re voting on.

You can also request that referendum information be posted to you by calling 0800 36 76 56.

Learn more about the referendums at www.referendums.govt.nz

We’ll release the final referendum results on 9 October

We’ll count referendum votes after election day, and release the preliminary referendum results on Friday 2 October. We’ll release the final referendum results on Friday 9 October with the official election results.