Interactive Lesson

Electorate vs List MPs

Who actually represents you

Choose your level

An electorate MP wins the most votes in a local area (an electorate). A list MP gets in from their party’s ranked list, to top the party up to its fair share of seats.

Your two votes choose both

Your electorate vote picks your local MP. Your party vote decides how many seats each party gets overall.

Equal MPs

List MPs and electorate MPs have exactly the same status and powers. Try the ballot below.

Try it yourself

Your two votes

Cast each vote to see what it actually does.

Party vote

Choose the party you support.

Electorate vote

Choose your local candidate.

Party vote → sets each party’s share of the 120 seats.

Electorate vote → elects your single local MP.

Test what you learned

Quick checkQuestion 1 of 3

Your electorate vote chooses…

Sources

Based on civics material from parliament.nz and the Electoral Commission (elections.nz). Non-partisan and free to use.