Information for Voters

In New Zealand, all local body elections are held by postal vote. That means you need to fill in your voting form and post it back before midday 11 October. 

Check with your local council for locations where you can hand in your voting forms. Find your electoral officer here. 

Who are the candidates? You can find out about the candidates in your area here.

Enrol to vote

If you are registered to vote in Parliamentary elections (a Parliamentary elector), you are automatically enrolled as a residential elector to vote in local authority elections. The address where you are registered as a Parliamentary elector will be in the council district for the local authority elections. 

You will receive a voting document in the mail so that you can vote by post. 

Not on the roll?

Enrol by 1 August so you can vote. If you enrol after 1 August, you will need to cast a ‘special vote’. 

How to enrol for the first time

An application for registration as a parliamentary elector can be made online by clicking the link above. The identity verification needed is a New Zealand driver licence, New Zealand passport or RealMe verified identity. 

If you are not able to enrol online, you can enrol or update your details in other ways, more information can be found here on the Electoral Commission website or you can call 0800 36 76 56 to arrange for forms to be sent to you directly. 

General roll or Māori roll?

If you’re of Māori descent and enrolling for the first time, you can decide which electoral roll you want to be on; the general roll or the Māori Roll. If you’re on the Māori Roll and your local authority has a Māori ward or constituency, you’ll vote for a candidate in the Māori ward. 

If you are Māori you can change your roll type at any time except: 

• in the 3 months before local elections which are held every 3 years 
• in the 3 months before a general election 
• before a parliamentary by-election if the change would move you into the electorate where the by-election is being held 

Learn more about voting in Māori wards here.

Overseas?

People living overseas can take part but must ensure that they are correctly enrolled with an overseas postal address in order to receive their voting papers by mail. Voting papers for local elections cannot be downloaded electronically. 

Unpublished roll?

Not everyone feels safe enough to have their details publicly available on the electoral roll, but that doesn’t mean they lose the right to vote. If you are registered on the Unpublished roll, you will need to apply to the Electoral Officer at your local council. Click here for more information.

Live in one area, pay rates in another?

Voters who live in one area and pay rates on a property in another area may qualify to vote in both areas. To do this, you need to be registered on the Ratepayer Roll. Click here for more information.