Wherever you pay rates you can vote
Do you live in one area and pay rates on a property in another area? You may qualify to vote in both areas at the local authority elections this October.
The place you live makes you a “residential elector”. This is based on the address you have given previously when enrolling. Your voting documents will be sent to this address.
However, if you also pay rates to a different council from where you live, or you pay rates on a property that has a community or local board different from where you live, you may also be eligible to enrol as a ‘non-resident ratepayer elector’.
In order to vote in a different election from where you live, you need to get onto the ‘ratepayer electoral role’.
How do I know if I am a Ratepayer Elector?
As an individual
You may pay rates on a residential property in another Council area such as a holiday home, rental property, shop, commercial or industrial property
As a couple or group of people
More than one person may pay rates on the same property in another Council area from where you live, such as partners, joint tenants, or tenants in common who collectively pay rates
As an organisation
You may pay rates on a property owned by your organisation in another Council area from where you live, such as a firm, company, trust, corporation, society or association
Nominate one person to be your Ratepayer Elector
Only one person can be the ratepayer elector and you have only one vote in this situation.
The person nominated to being the elector must consent to the nomination and cannot be a ratepayer elector for any other property.
The person nominated and the person nominating:
- must be registered as Parliamentary electors and
- must live at an address outside that council area where the property is located.
Examples:
My partner and I live in Wellington Central but have a rental property in Rotorua
- Both you and your partner can vote as resident electors in Wellington City Council and Wellington Regional Council elections, along with a community board that corresponds to the address you live at; plus
- One of you can be nominated as a non-resident ratepayer elector and vote in the Rotorua Lakes District Council and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council elections, along with a community board that corresponds to the address you pay rates on.
I live in Invercargill but my company has a building in Auckland
- You can vote as a resident elector in Invercargill City Council and Southland Regional Council elections, along with a community board that correspond to the address you live at; plus
- A member of your company, living outside of the Auckland Council area, can be nominated as a non-resident ratepayer elector and vote in the Auckland Council elections, along with a local board that corresponds to the address you pay rates on.
Already on the non-resident ratepayer roll?
If you have previously enrolled or were nominated as a ratepayer elector an Enrolment Confirmation Form will be issued to you between 2 March 2022 and 30 April 2022.
If you have not received the form or have misplaced it, contact the local council to send you the confirmation form again.
Not on the role but think you qualify?
New electoral rolls are compiled every three years for local authority elections
- Contact the local council you pay your rates to.
- Confirm you qualify.
- Ask for an Enrolment Form for Ratepayer Electors.
- Complete the form and send it to your local electoral officer to enrol.
Get your form early so you can get answers to any questions you have about the form or being on the Electoral Roll before the roll closes on Friday 12 August 2022.
You can still enrol after 12 August but will need to cast a ‘special vote’.
More questions?
For ratepayer roll enquiries:
please phone toll free
0800 54 8683
0800 LG VOTE
(phone number is available from
7 February 2022 to 30 August 2022)
Would you like more information?
For all other enquiries:
Contact the Electoral Officer or Deputy Electoral Officer at your local council.