How to vote in the general election
The country goes to the polls in just a few weeks. tells you what you need to know about getting enrolled to vote.
lived here for at least a year, or a resident of the Cook Islands, Australia, Niue or Tokelau who has lived here for at least a year.
If you’re eligible to vote but haven’t enrolled yet, go to elections.org.nz, visit your nearest PostShop, call 0800 36 76 56, or text your address to 3676. You can enrol to vote up until September 22 – the day before the election.
YOU CAN VOTE EARLY
Polling booths will be open on Saturday 23 from 9am until 7pm. If you’re worried you can’t juggle weekend sport with your democratic duty, pop into selected polling booths around the country from Monday, September 11. Visit elections.org.nz to find out which polling booths will be open early.
DO YOUR RESEARCH
There’s still plenty of time to find out which party and policies align most with your way of thinking. Watch the news, read newspapers, check out Neighbourly and do your own independent research. In the weeks leading up to the election you’ll also receive an info pack in the mail which includes details about the local MPs you can vote for.
WORKING ON ELECTION DAY
If you’re unlucky enough to have to work on a Saturday, your employer legally has to give you enough time off work to get to a polling booth if you can’t do it beforehand. As long as you’re not gone for more than two hours, they also can’t deduct wages from you.
For more information about this year’s general election, visit elections.org.nz.