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Electoral Act 1993

Elections - Preliminary count of votes

174F: Scrutineers for count of early votes

You could also call this:

"Having a scrutineer to watch the count of early votes"

Illustration for Electoral Act 1993

You can have a scrutineer at the count of early votes. They must be appointed in writing and signed by you, the constituency candidate. You can find more information about the count of early votes in section 174C. You can enter the restricted area 30 minutes before the count starts, as determined under section 174C(5)(a). You must not bring a device that can send information outside the area before the poll closes. If you do not follow the rules, the Returning Officer can refuse to let you in or ask you to leave the restricted area, as stated in section 174E(3).

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM309869.

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Topics:
Government and voting > Elections
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174E: Maintenance of secrecy of count of early votes, or

"Keeping early vote counting secret"

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174G: Offences in relation to count of early votes conducted before close of poll, or

"Breaking the rules about early vote counting on polling day can get you in trouble"

Part 6Elections
Preliminary count of votes

174FScrutineers for count of early votes

  1. Each constituency candidate may appoint a scrutineer to attend at the count of early votes conducted under section 174C.

  2. Every appointment of a scrutineer—

  3. must be in writing; and
    1. must be signed by the constituency candidate.

      1. Repealed

      2. Repealed

      3. If the count is conducted before the close of the poll, every scrutineer appointed under this section may enter and be present in the restricted area from the time on polling day that is 30 minutes before the time determined under section 174C(5)(a) for the start of the count until the conclusion of the count.

      4. No scrutineer may, before the close of the poll, enter a restricted area with a device that enables information to be conveyed to a person or machine outside the area.

      5. If a scrutineer fails to comply with subsection (5) or an instruction issued under section 174E(3) and communicated to the scrutineer, the Returning Officer may—

      6. refuse to allow the scrutineer to enter the restricted area; or
        1. require the scrutineer to leave the restricted area.

          Notes
          • Section 174F: inserted, on , by section 67(1) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 1).
          • Section 174F(3): repealed, on , by section 109 of the Electoral Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 82).
          • Section 174F(3A): repealed, on , by section 109 of the Electoral Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 82).
          • Section 174F(4): amended, on , by section 84(2) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 9).