New Zealand has voted to legalize euthanasia for people with terminal illnesses. Euthanasia has long been a hot topic of debate, but campaigners say this is a win for people to have agency over their lives and decide how and when they should end their life.

The question arose as a referendum question on the 17 October general election ballot paper, and preliminary results, which came on Friday, 30 October, say 65.2% of eligible voters tick “yes” to legalising euthanasia, with 33.8% ticking “no”, reported The Guardian.

These results are binding, which means no matter the government, they have to be acted upon. Therefore, they will be enacted by the new Labour government on 6 November 2021 and will be administered by New Zealand’s Ministry of Health.

The same referendum also asked about legalising cannabis, but the preliminary results showed that this did not pass.

According to reports, this referendum follows the End of Life Choice Act in parliament in 2019, and could only become an act if more than 50 per cent of voters said yes.

The criteria for those who can apply for euthanasia are that they are over 18 years-old, are New Zealand citizens and are living with a terminal illness that will end their life within six months, “have a significant and ongoing decline in physical capability”, are “enduring unbearable suffering that cannot be eased” and are able to make an “informed decision.” Additionally, two doctors would have to sign off on this decision - and they can call a psychiatrist to further verify it if they have doubts.

This also means that people with mental illnesses are not eligible, nor are those who don’t meet these specific criteria - for example, people with advanced age or severe disabilities can’t apply if they wish to.

(With inputs from The Guardian)