11.5 Election results
Progress results (including all votes received up until the night before election day, minus special votes) are announced as soon as possible after 12 noon on election day.
Preliminary results (including all votes received up until 12 noon on election day, minus special votes) are announced the Monday following election day.
Final results, tallying all votes, are announced and officially declared after special votes have been validated by the Electoral Commission and counted [1]. This usually takes places up to 7 working days following election day.
Successful candidates are advised of progress and preliminary results as soon as possible by email or phone. Progress and preliminary results are released to the media and placed on the Auckland Council website as soon as possible after 12pm on election day.
The declaration of results can be challenged through:
- a judicial recount, on application to a District Court Judge from a candidate up to three days after the public declaration [2] or,
- a judicial inquiry, by petition filed in the District Court by a candidate or 10 electors, within 21 days of the public declaration [3].
Anyone wishing to challenge the results has to provide reasons and a deposit of $750 with the application to the Auckland District Court [4].
Footnotes
[1] Local Electoral Regulations 2001, clause 58 and Local Electoral Act 2001, sections 85 and 86
[2] Local Electoral Act 2001, section 90
[3] Local Electoral Act 2001, section 93
[4] Local Electoral Regulations 2001, clauses 139 and 140