Enrolments close at midnight on 25 October as Electoral Commission seeks last-minute sign-ups

Eligible New Zealanders who are not yet enrolled have until midnight on Sunday 25 October to do so. The 2026 General Election is on Saturday 7 November.

The Electoral Commission is sending teams to shopping malls, markets, libraries, railway stations and hospitals to enrol the roughly 350,000 eligible people who are not on the roll, RNZ reported. The Commission has also sent out millions of letters and emails to encourage enrolment.

As of a Thursday before the deadline, 91.2 percent of eligible voters were enrolled. The Commission's target is 94.7 percent, the level it reached at the 2023 election.

Young people are the group furthest behind. Only 65.5 percent of 18 to 24 year olds were enrolled at the time of the RNZ report. Chief Electoral Officer Karl Le Quesne said the Commission is focusing its efforts on enrolling young people. At the Sylvia Park mall hub in Auckland, community engagement advisor Hannah Edwards said about 60 people a day were being enrolled.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has raised concerns about voters being disenfranchised, meaning unable to vote, because of enrolment levels. The Electoral Commission defended its enrolment efforts in response.

Voting starts on Monday 26 October, the day after enrolment closes, according to the Commission. Le Quesne said 25 October is the absolute last day to enrol for the 2026 election.

Changes made by the coalition Government mean voters must be enrolled by midnight on Sunday 25 October to vote, The Post reported. The Commission's website says a person must be enrolled by midnight 13 days before Election Day to vote in a general election.