On election day in New Zealand, talking about politics is against the law. Even though more than 1.6 million people already voted early, citizens, political parties, and news reporters must follow a strict 19-hour blackout on the final voting day. This rule means people cannot post political opinions on social media, wear campaign T-shirts, or show political profile pictures online.
The law is designed to give voters peace and stop last-minute pressure while they make their choices. Before polling stations open, workers must remove campaign billboards and advertisements across the country. Anyone who breaks the election-day blackout rules can face a fine of up to 20,000 New Zealand dollars, which is around 11,000 US dollars.
This year's election is especially tense because the country's two main political groups are in a very close race. The governing centre-right National Party and the opposition centre-left Labour Party are neck and neck in recent opinion polls. Voters are worried about the rising cost of living and the economy, but neither party appears likely to win enough seats in parliament to govern alone.
The strict silence remains in place until polling stations close on Saturday evening. Once the voting stops, officials will begin counting the votes and releasing preliminary results, and people will finally be allowed to discuss the election again.