MMP Explanation

Explain our MMP voting system (Mixed Member Proportional)

MMP stands for "mixed member proportional" because it is a proportional system and there are two types of members list MPs and electorate MPs.

MMP is the type of electoral system we have in New Zealand. It is the system by which members of parliament (MPs) are voted in by the people.

Under MMP you get two votes. With one you select a local electorate MP. With the second vote, you choose a political party.

About half the MPs in parliament are electorate MPs from 60 electorates. The other half are chosen from political party lists published before each election. Once the electorate seats are elected, list seats are allocated so that the overall number of seats each party gets reflects the percentage of the vote that party got.