Enrol to vote
You can vote in New Zealand elections if you’re eligible and enrolled (registered to vote).
Who can enrol to vote
If you’re eligible, you must enrol.
- Are you eligible to enrol and vote? — Electoral Commission
- What is an electoral roll? — Electoral Commission
- Choose between the Māori roll or general roll
Already enrolled? — Find out about voting in an election
When to enrol
To vote in a general election, you need to enrol at least 13 days before election day.
For local elections, the enrolment deadline is the day before election day.
General Election
The next general election is on . The last day to enrol to vote is .
Key dates:
- — Last day for Māori who are already enrolled to change roll type
- — Overseas voting starts
- — Last day to enrol to vote in the election
- — Advance voting starts
- — Election day
Enrolment information in other formats and languages
Get information about enrolling in:
- New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL)
- te reo Māori
- audio
- Braille
- large print
- Easy Read
- other languages including several Pacific languages.
Enrolment information in alternate formats — Electoral Commission
Enrolment information in multiple languages — Electoral Commission
How to enrol or check your details
Online is the quickest way to enrol or update your details
You can enrol to vote or update your enrolment details online.
Enrol or update your details online — Electoral Commission
When you cannot enrol or update online
If you cannot enrol online, there are other ways you can enrol or update your details.
Other ways to enrol — Electoral Commission
Help to enrol or update your details
Support is available to help you enrol. You can also assist someone else to enrol if they need help.
Need help to enrol — Electoral Commission
If you’re Māori, you can choose the roll you want to be on
New Zealand has 2 rolls — the general electoral roll and the Māori electoral roll.
- If you’re of Māori descent, you can choose to be enrolled on the Māori or general roll.
- If you’re not of Māori descent, you will be enrolled on the general roll.
You cannot be on both rolls at the same time.
Your roll choice:
- affects which candidates you can choose from in parliamentary elections and local elections
- helps to determine the number of Māori and general electorates in future elections.
General roll or Māori roll? — Electoral Commission
Choose between the Māori roll or general roll
Not safe for your name and address to be on the published roll?
You can apply to go on the confidential unpublished roll if you’re worried for you or your family’s safety. Your details stay secure and are not on the printed electoral roll.
Overseas — enrol to vote in a general election
Check your eligibility, which electorate you’re eligible to enrol in, when you need to enrol by and how to enrol.
Enrolment packs — letters to update your details
Before a general election and the local elections, the Electoral Commission will send you a letter by post to check they have your correct details.
If you do not get this letter, check your details online or by free phoning 0800 367 656 within New Zealand.
Local elections
In local elections, you vote for people you want to represent you on local councils and boards, for example, district councils, community boards and licensing trusts. Local councils run their own local elections.
If you’re enrolled and your details are up to date, your council will send you voting papers by post for local elections every 3 years.
Property owners living overseas
If you own property in New Zealand, you can vote in local elections from overseas. When you enrol, put your overseas address as your postal address so your voting papers are sent to you. Voting papers for local elections are not available to download online.
Property owners who live somewhere else in NZ
If you own property in a local council area but you live outside that area, you can go on the ratepayer roll. This means you can vote in the area where you pay rates and also the area where you live.
To apply to be on the ratepayer role, contact the electoral officer for the local council you pay rates to.
Who to contact for more help
If you need more help or have questions about the information or services on this page, contact the following agency.
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Electoral Commission
Contact and agency details