Advance voting begins in New Zealand election

FILE PHOTO: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern participates in a televised debate with National leader Judith Collins at TVNZ in Auckland, New Zealand, September 22, 2020. Fiona Goodall/Pool via REUTERS

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Early voting began in New Zealand on Friday with the Prime Minister and Labour Party leader Jacinda Ardern seen securing a second term in office on the back of her success in handling the coronavirus pandemic and other crises.

Voters can head to the polls with about 450 advance polling stations opened across the country in the lead up to election day on Oct 17.