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KEY POINTS:
• The results are in: it is YES to euthanasia, NO to the legalization of cannabis, preliminary figures show.
• Preliminary results were released today at 2 pm; The final results will be published next Friday, November 6.
• Final results will include about 480,000 special votes.
• It will take approximately one year before terminally ill patients can apply for assisted dying.
New Zealanders have voted yes to euthanasia, no to legalization of cannabis, preliminary figures show.
With an estimated 17 percent of the votes yet to be counted, 65.2 percent voted in favor of the End-of-Life Election Law, while 53.1 percent voted against the draft law. control and legalization of cannabis.
Cannabis reform supporters were looking for at least a close margin in the preliminary results of the referendum, which were released at 2 p.m.
Recent polls had the “no” vote on cannabis legalization substantially before the “yes” vote.
The final results, which include special votes, will be announced on November 6.
ACT Leader David Seymour thanked MPs for supporting the end of life election bill through Parliament.
He also thanked Dame Jenny Gibbs for “giving me the courage as a young MP to pursue this cause,” Brooke van Veldon for her work to rally support in Parliament for the bill, and National MP Chris Bishop.
He said New Zealand would be “a kinder, more compassionate and more humane society – what a great day to be a Kiwi.”
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After the announcement, Justice Minister Andrew Little said the chances of the special votes changing the outcome of the cannabis referendum were very remote.
“The probability of that happening is so low that it practically does not exist.”
According to 480,000 special votes, 32% of “no” and 68% of “yes” would change the result of the referendum on cannabis.
Little said voters had spoken and were “uncomfortable” with the legalization of cannabis.
Changes in the drug law last year had led to a level of decriminalization, he added.
“In the end, people weren’t ready to take that step.”
Green MP Chloe Swarbrick said the final result on the legalization of cannabis would not be known until November 6.
“Today’s result shows what we had assumed for a long time, that it was going to be very close and that we have to wait for the stages to be sure of the result.”
“We have said from the beginning that this would always come down to voter turnout. We have had a record number of special votes, so I remain optimistic.
“New Zealand has had a really mature and ever-evolving conversation about the drug laws in this country and we’ve come a long way in the last three years.
“Many of those who have traditionally felt disenfranchised from the political system can be heard on specials. We’ll wait to see how next week unfolds.”
Former Prime Minister Helen Clark, who supported a “yes” vote on cannabis, told the Herald before the results were published that legalizing cannabis could make a positive difference in the lives of thousands of people.
“The jury is out on whether New Zealand will move with the times, acknowledge the reality of the widespread availability and use of cannabis and regulate around that, or whether it will continue to look the other way and let the damaging impacts of prohibition continue to feel. “
David Seymour hosted an event in Parliament starting at 1pm that heard from Shirley Seales and, via Skype from New York, Matt Vickers, the mother and widowed husband of euthanasia activist Lecretia Seales.
Shirley Seales gave an emotional speech recognizing her daughter’s legacy.
“I’m sure [Lecretia] I never would have imagined that she would still be recognized for the role she has played. She would be very honored and I know she would want others to be recognized. “
She paid tribute to Matt Vickers, various attorneys who advocated for the cause, and MPs including Seymour, Maryan Street, and Michael Laws.
He said it had been “particularly upsetting to hear lies about Lecretia throughout the campaign.”
“I have been tempted to respond, but my greatest reward will be a majority vote. We are very proud of Lecretia, and I am sure she is smiling at all of us.”
Today’s result marks the end of Seymour’s five-year journey since he first put the End of Life Election Bill on the ballot.
The referendum is binding and the majority vote “yes” will make it become law, and terminal patients will be able to request assisted death as of November 6 next year.
A spokeswoman for the prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, confirmed that she voted in favor in both referendums and that she would advance any legislation in accordance with the will of the people after the publication of the final results next week.
The Electoral Commission said the two-week wait for preliminary results of the referendum was reduced to prioritizing votes for the general elections, the preliminary results of which were released a few hours after the polls closed.
“We are guided by the Referendum Framework Law, which made it clear that the priority was to start the official count of the election results first, so that the referendum count does not delay the final results of the general elections,” said a spokeswoman of the commission.
