Information for Voters
Are you eligible to vote in New Zealand?
You’re eligible to enrol and vote if you are 18 years or older, a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, and you’ve lived in New Zealand continuously for 12 months or more at some time in your life.
For electoral purposes, you are a permanent resident if you’re in New Zealand legally and not required to leave within a specific time.
You’re not eligible to enrol and vote if any of the following statements are true:
- you’re a New Zealand citizen who has not been in New Zealand within the last 3 years
- you’re a permanent resident of New Zealand who has not been in New Zealand within the past twelve months
- you have to leave New Zealand by a set date, such as a date on a student, work, or visitor permit
- you're serving a prison sentence of 3 years or more in a New Zealand prison
- you’ve been in a psychiatric hospital for over 3 years after being charged with a criminal offence
- you’ve been convicted of a corrupt practice and added to the Corrupt Practices List
If you’re unsure about your eligibility, call the Electoral Commission on 0800 36 76 56 or contact the Electoral Commission enrolment team.
How do I enrol to vote?
You can enrol as a resident if you:
- are 18 years or older,
- are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident,
- have lived in New Zealand continuously for 12 months or more at some time in your life.
If you’re enrolled to vote for the parliamentary elections, then you’re automatically enrolled for council elections too.
- Visit vote.nz to enroll or update your details online
- Alternatively phone 0800 36 76 56
The Electoral Commission (external link) has a lot of useful, accessible resources in different formats.
