Advanced voting up on last election

Advanced voting is up this election. Photo / Getty Images

A record number of New Zealanders cast advanced votes ahead of today's general election, according to the Electoral Commission.

More than 700,000 people had already voted before the polls opened today, up from 334,000 in 2011 and 270,000 in 2008.

An Electoral Commission spokesman said this was not necessarily a reflection on overall voter turnout, given that prior to the 2011 election people had to provide special reasons in order to to cast an advanced vote.

And in 2011, there was less publicity around the advanced voting system.

"We think that New Zealanders are more aware of advanced voting as an option," the spokesman said. "We have had quite a lot of advertising promotion around it as well. And also I think the advanced voting stations have been located at more convenient places and more prominent places, so it's been very easy to vote in advance."

In 2011, 3,070,847 people voted in the general election - 74.2 per cent of eligible voters - and 2,990,759 voted in 2008 - 79.5 per cent.

David Cunliffe, left, and Colin Craig are among the thousands of Kiwis who cast their vote early. Photos / Getty Images