In this article
- Do I have to enrol?
- How do I know if I am enrolled?
- How can I enrol online?
- What languages can I get information about enrolling and voting in?
- How can I confirm my identity?
- How do I record or update my details?
- How can I return an enrolment form?
- My name has a macron or special character in it. Will it work?
- What other methods are there to enrol?
- Can I enrol from overseas?
- Are prisoners eligible to enrol?
Do I have to enrol?
Yes. If you live in New Zealand and you’re eligible, you must enrol. However, voting is not compulsory in New Zealand.
How do I know if I am enrolled?
You can check your details online at vote.nz or by calling 0800 36 76 56. If you are overseas you can call +64 9 909 4182 (please note international rates may apply)
How can I enrol online?
Anyone who is eligible to enrol and has a New Zealand driver licence, New Zealand passport or a RealMe verified identity can enrol or update their enrolment details online.
As part of the process, you will need to supply a phone number and email address to enrol online. These details will remain private. If you do not wish to supply email and/or phone details, you can download and print a paper enrolment form (see “What other methods are there to enrol?” below).
What languages can I get information about enrolling and voting in?
Information about enrolling and voting is available at vote.nz in 27 different languages.
How can I confirm my identity?
your-online-information-and-using-our-websites
How do I record or update my details?
Whichever way you choose to enrol or update your details, checks are made to ensure you are eligible and correctly enrolled at the right address. You will receive a letter of confirmation in the mail.
If you are studying away from home, you should enrol to vote at the address you consider home. It could be your family home, or the address you’re living at while you study.
If you are homeless, you can enrol at an address where you spend a substantial part of your time. You can also enrol at the last residential address where you lived for at least one month. You’ll also need to provide a postal address so that we can send your information about your enrolment and elections in the mail. It could be a friend or family member’s address, or a PO Box number.
If you are overseas, you will need to enrol at the last residential address you lived at for at least one month or more before moving overseas. You can include your overseas address as your postal address. This will mean that mail will be sent to you overseas.
Our online enrolment does not currently support entering names with diacritics (macron, grave, cedilla, etc). If your name is normally spelt with a diacritic, please type the letter without. Entering your name in this way will not affect your enrolment.
Updates to your enrolment details may take a few days to process. We need to receive, check and process your form before your details can be updated. You’ll get an email to confirm that your enrolment details have been updated.
How can I return an enrolment form?
We will send you a freepost envelope with your enrolment form so you can return it easily. You can also:
• Scan or photograph your enrolment form and upload it at https://vote.nz/upload
• Scan or photograph and email your enrolment form to enrol@vote.nz
• Mail it to:
Enrolment Services
PO Box 190
Wellington 6140
NEW ZEALAND
My name has a macron or special character in it. Will it work in the enrolment system?
Our online enrolment system does not currently support entering names with diacritics (macron, grave, cedilla, etc.). If your name is normally spelt with a diacritic, please type the letter without. Entering your name in this way will not affect your enrolment.
What other methods are there to enrol?
If you don't have regular access to the internet, or the right identification details (New Zealand driver licence, New Zealand passport or RealMe ID) to accompany an online enrolment, you can still enrol in other ways.
You can enrol or update your details by filling in an enrolment form. Call 0800 36 76 56 or text your name and address to 3676 to have one sent to you. You can pick up an enrolment form at a Citizen's Advice Bureau, most public libraries, and Electoral Commission offices.
Can I enrol from overseas?
Are prisoners eligible to enrol?
Prisoners serving a sentence of less than three years are eligible to enrol and vote, as are people on remand awaiting trial or sentence, home detention or serving a community-based sentence.