Enrolment for the 2026 election closes at midnight on Sunday
Enrolment for New Zealand's 2026 general election closes at midnight on Sunday 25 October. Rule changes for this election mean people cannot enrol on election day, so anyone who wants to vote and is not yet on the electoral roll needs to enrol before the deadline, according to RNZ.
Election day is 7 November, 13 days after enrolment closes. Voting starts on Monday 26 October, and voting ends at 7pm on election day, according to the Electoral Commission.
As of the Friday before the deadline, 92.4 percent of eligible people were enrolled. For people aged 18 to 24, the figure was 69.9 percent, according to RNZ.
Under section 82 of the Electoral Act 1993, anyone eligible must enrol once they turn 18. Failing to enrol without good reason can result in a fine of up to $100, or up to $200 for a second conviction.
Voters can enrol or update their details online through the Commission's Vote NZ website. Completed enrolment forms can be uploaded online, or brought to an enrolment hub, to make sure they arrive in time. Voters cannot update their enrolment details after midnight on Sunday 25 October.
The Commission is also running in-person enrolment events through 25 October to help people enrol or check their details. Voters who have moved must enrol or update their address before they can vote.
The published electoral roll contains each voter's full name and home address. It can be viewed at public libraries or at Electoral Commission offices. Voters who prefer not to have their details published can ask to go on an unpublished roll, which keeps all enrolment details private.
