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The 2020 New Zealand election is happening on Twitter

By
Tuesday, 13 October 2020

We’re in the final countdown for Election Day in New Zealand. On October 17, Kiwis will go to the polls to have their say in the 2020 New Zealand General Election and on two referendums. The campaign period might look a little different this year due to COVID-19, but one thing has remained the same — the election conversation is happening on Twitter. 

Our research indicates that Kiwis use Twitter to stay connected and get informed, with 1 in 3 Twitter users in New Zealand saying it's their main source of news on politics*. During campaigning, Twitter has lit up with conversation about candidates, policies, and the issues that matter the most to New Zealanders. 

Here's everything you need to know about the #NZElection2020 conversation on Twitter: 

Special election emoji

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We’ve launched a Twitter emoji featuring one very civically engaged kiwi bird to add some colour to your election Tweets. It will appear when you Tweet with any of the following hashtags.

  • #nzpol 
  • #Decision20  
  • #NZElection2020 
  • #YourVote2020

Find key information at Twitter’s dedicated Event page

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Twitter’s one-stop shop Event page has all the key information New Zealanders need to know ahead of polling day. Voters at home and abroad can find credible information on the topics they care about, including candidates, how to enrol and vote, and what key policies are being discussed. 

Protecting the integrity of the New Zealand Election on Twitter 

In New Zealand and around the world, Twitter has consistently worked to protect the public conversation around elections — the cornerstone of our democracies.

Our expanded Civic Integrity Policy, Political Content Policy, and overarching Twitter Rules are in place to protect the election conversation as New Zealanders express their critical rights this October. 

We’ve connected with political parties to provide an overview of our election policies and our work around civic integrity, as well as sharing practical tips for staying safe on Twitter. We have also engaged with the parties and the New Zealand Electoral Commission (@ElectoralCommNZ) to ensure the right support channels are in place to escalate concerns and report any violations of our Rules or policies. 

Our cross-functional elections team

We have formed a high-level internal group to lead our election integrity work throughout the election period. The group consists of several of the company’s top trust and safety experts and members from our site integrity, legal, data science investigation, and public policy teams. This blend of perspectives, expertise, and backgrounds is a critical component of maintaining the health of the conversation on our service.  

Fostering civic engagement and the election conversation

Twitter is the place where people go to see what’s happening during an election, participate in the conversation, and join the online campaign trail.

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Kiwis have turned to Twitter to share their early voting experiences

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Keep up to date with political parties, candidates, and civil society

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The final leaders’ debate will be broadcast live on Twitter over at @1NewsNZ, Thursday, October 15 at 7:00pm NZDT (5:00pm AEDT). 

And to enjoy the lighter side of the election:

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Follow @TwitterGov to stay up to date on the #NZElection2020 campaign on Twitter.

 

 

*Source: Twitter “New Zealand election research” Survey 2020

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