Flag referendum: How many have voted?

As at the end of last week, 1.13 million voters had sent in their ballot papers for the first referendum, which asks them to rank the flag designs in their order of preference. Photo / Mark Mitchell

• Votes in flag referendum so far: 1,133,157 - 35.74 per cent of enrolled voters
• At same point in 2013 asset sales referendum: 1,126,448 - 37 per cent of enrolled voters.
• Voting closes: 7pm this Friday.

With four days to go, Prime Minister John Key says he is encouraged by the turnout for the flag referendum but expects the second referendum next year to attract even greater voter involvement.

As at the end of last week, 1.13 million voters had sent in their ballot papers for the first referendum, which asks them to rank the flag designs in their order of preference.

Voting ends this Friday, and so far 36 per cent of eligible voters have voted. The numbers are slightly more than at the same stage of the 2013 citizens-initiated referendum on asset sales, although they are slightly less as a proportion of all voters.

That 2013 referendum had a total turnout of 45 per cent. The flag referendum is tracking at a similar pace.

"I think you might see a bigger turnout for the second referendum because that's going to be the one that assesses whether the flag is retained or not," Mr Key said.

A lower turnout was common with postal referendums, he said.

The results of the first referendum will be known by 8.30pm on Friday, when it will also become clear how many of those votes are invalid -- the Returned and Services Association has campaigned for people to spoil their ballot papers in protest at the proposal to consider a new flag design.

The Electoral Commission has recommended that people try to post their ballot papers by Tuesday to ensure they arrive by Friday. Fewer deliveries by New Zealand Post delayed the arrival of some ballot papers in the letterboxes of householders.

People who miss the postal deadline can still deliver their ballot papers to a New Zealand Post Shop by closing time on Friday for their vote to count.