POLL: NZ Herald Digipoll,November 7 2008

The New Zealand Herald Digipoll for November 7 2008 shows the Nats ahead by just under 12 points, the lowest margin of all the polls out in the last 24 hours. The  TV3 TNS and Colmar Brunton had similar margins, while today's Fairfax Nielson poll has National ahead by 18 points.

It shows National could form a new government with micro-parties Act and United Future. The three parties would have 64 seats between them, two more than the majority needed.

They would not need the support of the Maori Party to govern, although National leader John Key has said he would try to work with the party even if he did not need it.

National's support has fallen 2.5 points in the past fortnight to 47.9 per cent.

It is the first time it has been below 50 per cent since March this year.

But Mr Key is well ahead as preferred Prime Minister, with 46.2 per cent support, compared to Helen Clark's 41.6 per cent. More

Clark has come out today and said her polling suggests she will win on November 7.

Herald Digipolls

NZ Herald Digipoll: October 24 2008

NZ Herald Digipoll: September 26 2008

NZ Herald Digipoll: August 28 2008

NZ Herald Digipoll: July 29 2008

NZ Herald Digipoll: June 28 2008

NZ Herald Digipoll: May 30 2008

c Political Animal 2008

How to Vote

Information on how to vote in the November 8 election, from Elections New Zealand - elections.org.nz

WHO CAN VOTE?

Anyone who is enrolled by Friday 7 November can vote in the general election.

If you are enrolled by Wednesday 8 October you will receive an EasyVote information pack from the Chief Electoral Office.

It contains all the information you need, including an EasyVote card or letter to take to the polling place to make voting easier.

WHEN?

You can vote at a polling place between 9.00am and 7.00pm on election day, Saturday 8 November.

If you are not going to be in your electorate on election day you can vote in advance from Wednesday 22 October.

WHERE?

Vote at one of the polling places in your electorate on election day.

A list of polling places and advance voting places in each electorate will be available on elections.org.nz from Thursday 16 October and in the EasyVote pack.

If you are overseas during the voting period, you can cast an overseas vote.

If there are other reasons why you can't get to a polling place on election day, you may be able to cast a special declaration vote.

HOW?

On election day, go to a polling place in your electorate.

If you have received an EasyVote card or a letter from the Chief Electoral Officer, take this with you. You can vote without an EasyVote card or letter, but it will take longer.

When you go vote, give your EasyVote card or letter to the issuing officer. If you don't have an EasyVote card or letter, you will need to tell the issuing officer your full name and address.

The issuing officer will give you your ballot paper.

Take your ballot paper to a private booth.

On your ballot paper, place a tick by the name of the political party of your choice and a tick by the name of the candidate you would most like to represent your electorate.

You can view a sample ballot paper.

Further information
Source: Elections NZ

POLL: Fairfax Nielson Poll: 7 November 2008

The Fairfax Nielson Poll for 7 November 2008 puts National well into the lead with a similar margin to last months poll.

Today's Fairfax-Nielsen poll shows National has opened up an 18-point lead - 49 per cent support compared with Labour's 31 per cent - and a last-minute surge in support for ACT would put John Key in a position to pick his new Cabinet.

Labour leader Helen Clark has thumbed her nose at the poll findings - but two other polls last night also show National in a position to govern.

Miss Clark, who is hitting the shopping malls and factory floors in a frantic last-minute push to shore up the key South Auckland vote, issued yesterday her plea to voters: "I'm saying this is one for the true believers. If people want a Labour-led government, they'll get out and vote for it." more

The Colmar Brunton and TNS TV3 polls out yesterday gave the Nats a 12 and 13 point lead so voters should probably see those two polls as more accurate.

As I remarked in a poll yesterday though this doesn't take into effect the feeling for a change sweeping across the nation.

Fairfax Nielson Polls

Fairfax Nielson Poll: 18 October 2008

Fairfax Nielson Poll: 20 Sept 2008

Fairfax Nielson Poll: August 16 2008

Fairfax Nielson Poll: 19 July 2008

Fairfax Neilson Poll: 21 June 2008

Fairfax Neilson Poll: 17 May 2008

Fairfax Neilson Poll: 23 Feb 2008

c Stuff.co.nz & Political Animal 2008

POLL: TV3 TNS Poll 6 November 2008

The latest TV3 TNS poll for November 6 2008 shows a collapse of Labour support, from over 37% in the last TNS poll to 33% in today's poll.

National is up almost one percent to 46.

Labour's vote collapses to just over 33. It is being punished for president Mike Williams’ failed trip to Melbourne to dig up dirt on John Key.

The Greens are coasting at 9 percent - the highest ever result in a 3 News poll.

New Zealand First is on 3.4 percent – and facing oblivion on Saturday.

ACT has received a last minute boost - 2.8 - that would see Roger Douglas in parliament.

The Maori Party is on 2.7 – and is expected to win at least four seats - most likely five.

Jim Anderton's Progressives and United Future's Peter Dunne are off the pace - but will win their seats.

In parliament, 62 seats are needed to govern - National has 59, ACT four, and Peter Dunne one - that's 64 and John Key is running the country.

Across in opposition, Labour has just 42 seats, the Greens 12, Jim Anderton one - add in the Maori Party -  and even then they fail to govern, with 59 seats. More

Today's TV One Colmar Brunton poll has a similar lead to National-just differing by 1 point- but with slightly different figures.

TV3 has been the odd one out in polls wildly swinging so its similarity with the Colmar poll confirms the trend of a healthy lead for National.

There will be 3 more polls out tomorrow. Fairfax Nielson, NZ Herald Digipoll and Roy Morgan.

c Political Animal 2008