Only two months left to enrol

Last week, 3.6 million enrolment packs began to arrive in mailboxes across the country so enrolled voters can check their details are correct for the General Election on November 7.

The General Election will be held on Saturday, November 7, but the critical date for anyone wanting to vote is Sunday, October 25.

Under changes introduced for this election, voters must be enrolled by midnight that day. Advance voting begins on October 26 and, unlike at the 2023 election, people will not be able to enrol or update their details at a voting place. 

The change could catch out people accustomed to being able to enrol at the last minute. At the 2023 election, about 110,000 people enrolled or updated their details on election day itself. 

The Electoral Commission says more than 3.6 million people are currently enrolled, but estimates another 440,000 eligible voters are not, including about 200,000 aged 18 to 24. 

There is another reason to check, even for people who believe they are already enrolled.

RNZ recently reported cases of people discovering they had been moved onto the Electoral Commission’s dormant roll. Deputy chief executive for operations Anusha Guler said the most common reason was people moving house without updating their enrolment.

When mail sent by the Commission is returned as undeliverable, it attempts to contact the voter by email or mobile phone if those details are available. If the person does not respond within four weeks, they can be moved from the main electoral roll to the dormant roll.

Someone on the dormant roll is still able to vote. Guler said voting staff can look them up electronically and they will generally be directed to cast a special vote. However, people can return to the main roll by confirming their address through vote.nz or completing an enrolment form.

Anyone who finds they have been moved to the dormant roll despite not changing address should contact the Electoral Commission on 0800 36 76 56, she said.

The Commission is also sending reminder texts in late August to people on the dormant roll where it holds a mobile number.

The Commission recommends enrolling or updating details by October 4 to receive an EasyVote card, although the final enrolment deadline is midnight on October 25. 

Enrolment details can be checked or updated at vote.nz, or people can call 0800 36 76 56 or text their name and address to 3676 for an enrolment form.