Last chance to enrol this week
There’s still time to enrol or update your details so you’re ready to vote in this year’s election.
“If you’re not enrolled yet, or you’ve moved and need to update your address on the electoral roll, do it now. The deadline is midnight, Sunday 25 October,” says Karl Le Quesne, Chief Electoral Officer.
“By enrolling, you can vote and have your say on who represents you and your community in Parliament.”
More than 9 out of 10 people are enrolled for this year’s election, or 91.5% of the estimated eligible population. 66.7% of 18- to 24-year-olds are enrolled, up from 53.9% on 31 July.
How to enrol
“Drop in to one of our enrolment hubs and our teams can help you enrol or update your details. We’ll be at about 75 locations at different times this week including shopping malls in the main centres,” says Karl Le Quesne.
Enrolment hub times and locations are available on vote.nz or by calling 0800 36 76 56.
“Using our online service is the most popular way to enrol. You can enrol or update your details at vote.nz/enrol using your New Zealand driver licence, New Zealand passport or RealMe verified identity.
“You can also fill in a paper form. The quickest ways to return a form in time are to upload a scan or photo to our website or email it back to us. If you’re returning your form by post, we recommend posting it by Tuesday 20 October. You can also drop off a form at one of our enrolment hubs.”
Voting starts soon
The first votes in the 2026 General Election will be cast this week when overseas and telephone dictation voting start on Wednesday 21 October.
Advance voting starts in New Zealand on Monday 26 October. The days and times advance voting places are open vary, so check before you go at vote.nz or call 0800 36 76 56.
The delivery of EasyVote cards by email and post is underway to everyone enrolled by 4 October.
“You don’t need an EasyVote card to vote, but it makes voting faster if you have one. If you’ve given us your email address, check your inbox. If we just have your postal address, we’ll send it by post. The vast majority of cards should arrive before voting starts,” says Karl Le Quesne.
Key election dates
- 14 October – Delivery of EasyVote cards started
- 21 October – Overseas and telephone dictation voting starts
- 25 October – Deadline to enrol for this election
- 26 October – Advance voting starts
- 7 November – Election day. Voting places are open from 9am to 7pm
Links to more information
- Enrolment hub locations and time
- Communications from the Electoral Commission
- Voting place locations
- Party lists
- Electorate candidates
- Enrol or update your details at vote.nz/enrol
Latest enrolment figures
| Enrolment figures 17 October 2026 | |||
| Age band | Total enrolled | Estimated Eligible Population | Percent Eligible Enrolled |
| 18 - 24 | 294,050 | 440,692 | 66.7% |
| 25 - 29 | 271,138 | 314,115 | 86.3% |
| 30 - 34 | 317,086 | 376,018 | 84.3% |
| 35 - 39 | 346,958 | 382,530 | 90.7% |
| 40 - 44 | 322,406 | 347,012 | 92.9% |
| 45 - 49 | 299,322 | 314,435 | 95.2% |
| 50 - 54 | 304,183 | 330,393 | 92.1% |
| 55 - 59 | 313,231 | 319,200 | 98.1% |
| 60 - 64 | 302,957 | 315,701 | 96.0% |
| 65 - 69 | 280,710 | 276,671 | 101.5% |
| 70+ | 656,206 | 634,873 | 103.4% |
| Total | 3,708,247 | 4,051,640 | 91.5% |
Enrolment rates are based on estimates of the eligible population in each age group.