2020 New Zealand euthanasia referendum
Binding referendum in New Zealand / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The 2020 New Zealand euthanasia referendum was a binding referendum[1] held in New Zealand on 17 October 2020, on the question of whether to legalise euthanasia via the End of Life Choice Act 2019.[2] The vote was held in conjunction with the 2020 general election, and official results were released on 6 November 2020. It was accepted by New Zealand voters, with 65.1% in support and 33.7% opposed.[3]
The act came into force on 7 November 2021, twelve months after the final vote count was announced.[4] The End of Life Choice Act legalises voluntary euthanasia for those with a terminal illness and less than six months left to live, if confirmed to be eligible by two doctors.[1][5] New Zealand is the first country to have put euthanasia legalisation to a referendum.[1]
Votes for the End of Life Choice referendum were included on the same ballot as the 2020 cannabis referendum, which sought to legalise recreational cannabis.