In this situation those parties that do cross the threshold may receive a slightly higher percentage of all the seats in Parliament compared to their share of all the Party Votes. There are 61 general electorates and six Maori electorates being contested this election - making 67 in all. The candidate who wins the most Electorate Votes in each becomes the electorate MP, as with the old First Past the Post system. The ballot paper will have two clearly marked columns. The left-hand column contains a list of the registered parties, with the other containing a list of the candidates standing in the local electorate.
Voters have one vote in each column.
Electors can give their Electorate Vote to a candidate from the same party as their Party Vote by ticking circles alongside each other on the ballot paper. Electors also have a choice of casting both votes or only one. Under the Act the outcome of both referenda will be non-binding on the Government.