CHANGES TO ELECTORAL LAW REQUIRE PRIOR ENROLMENT

The Government have changed the rules for voting which will affect this year’s general election.

In the past, voters have been able to enrol and vote on election day but now every voter has to be enrolled before midnight on the 25^th October 2026.

Voters now need to be enrolled before voting starts.  Voters can no longer enrol and vote at the same time.

• Voters are urged to enrol before 4^th October 2026.  Everyone enrolled by the 4^th October should receive an EasyVote card (by email if provided to the electoral commission, or postal address if you have not provided an email address or on the unpublished roll)
  
  
• Voters who enrol after the 4^th October but before the 25^th October 2026 will still be able to vote but will have to cast a special vote which takes longer.
  
  
• Voters cannot enrol after midnight on the 25^th October 2026 and won’t be able to enrol at the polling  booths.  

Are you eligible to vote?

• If you are 18 years or older, a New Zealand citizen or resident for electoral purposes, and you have lived in New Zealand continuously for 12 months or more at some time of your life you are eligible to vote.
• If you are 17 years old you are still encouraged to enrol.  On your 18^th birthday you will automatically be enrolled.
• Need more information?  Go to Are you eligible to enrol and vote? | Vote NZ

Check you are enrolled and your contact details are update

About 115,000 voters have been put on the “dormant” roll when the electoral commission has been unable to reach the voter.  Even some who have not moved have found out by chance they are on the dormant roll.  If you are on the dormant roll, you will not be on the printed roll at the voting place/polling booth but can still vote by casting a special vote.

• Go to Enrol or update online | Vote NZ to check. 
• You should be enrolled at the address you live so if you have moved you will need to update those details.
• Even if you have not moved, check anyway. 
• If you have not received mail from electoral commission (by email or by post) please check the roll.  
• Remember  - you cannot enrol or update your address after midnight on 25^th October 2026.

Not enrolled?  then enrol online or by post

• To enrol online go to Enrol or update online | Vote NZ; or
• If you don’t want to enrol online the  go to Other ways to enrol | Vote NZ; or
• Print off the attached enrolment form and email it to enrol@vote.nz; or
• Print off the attached enrolment form and  post it to Electoral Commission, Freepost 2 Enrol, PO Box 190, Wellington 6140

Voting

• Those enrolled before 4 October 2026 should receive an EasyVote card by email or in the post.  If you have not received it prior to voting you may need to cast a special vote.
• 21 October 2026 - Overseas voting starts  (How to vote from overseas | Vote NZ)
• 26 October 2026 - Advance voting starts
• 7 November 2026 - Election Day with voting places open from 9am to 7pm

If you are working on Election Day your employer must let you leave work for a reasonable time to vote and cannot deduct wages for that period.  For those working in an essential service you are still entitled to time off work (without deduction) to vote provided you do not take more than 2 hours.

For more information go to Home | Vote NZ or call 0800 36 76 56

In unity,
Wattie Watson
National Secretary