Find out more about how to become a candidate for the 2023 General Election.
Democracy is only possible if people are prepared to put themselves forward for a chance to represent their community.
Voters and political parties can nominate candidates to contest the general election.
For the general election, there are two types of candidates:
- Electorate candidates who stand for election in electorates, and
- List candidates on party lists who may be elected through the party vote.
A $300 deposit must be paid with an electorate candidate nomination.
A $1,000 deposit must be paid for the nomination of a party's list of candidates.
There are strict deadlines for nominations. Key dates to be aware of if you are standing as a candidate include:
| Monday 28 August | Candidate nominations open - lodge your candidate nomination form and deposit from this date |
| Sunday 10 September | Writ day - the Governor-General issues a formal direction to the Electoral Commission to hold the election - nominations can be formally accepted once the writ has been issued |
| Noon Thursday 14 September | Deadline for bulk nomination of electorate candidates and party lists |
| Noon Friday 15 September | Deadline for nominations for candidates using the individual nomination process |
| Saturday 16 September | Electorate candidate names and party lists published on vote.nz |