Getting ready for next year’s election
Work is underway to put electoral law changes in place and support voters to be enrolled and ready to vote in 2026.
The Electoral Amendment Bill which passed its third reading this week closes enrolment 13 days before election day and means voters will need to be enrolled before voting begins.
“Our focus in 2026 will be on ensuring people enrol earlier so their vote counts,” says Karl Le Quesne, Chief Electoral Officer.
“Ahead of the 2026 General Election we will undertake a nationwide information and education programme to let you and your community know when you need to enrol by, and how to do it.”
The Bill introduces a range of other rule changes, including increasing the disclosure threshold for party donations and disqualifying sentenced prisoners from voting.
Recommendations made by the Electoral Commission on promoter statements and streamlining processes for party registration, candidate nominations and setting expenditure limits, are also included.
“We are updating our systems, websites, enrolment forms and guidance for voters, parties and candidates with all the changes in the Bill, ready for election year,” says Karl Le Quesne.
“The Bill also lays the groundwork for modernising election services, including moving to automatic address updates after the next election. People will see the start of the modernisation programme next year with greater use of digital communications from the Commission.
“You can enrol, check or update your details, including your email address and phone number, online at vote.nz or you can call freephone 0800 36 76 56 and ask for an enrolment form to be sent to you.”
Changes from 1 January
Changes to the electoral finance and promoter statement rules take effect from 1 January 2026.
- The disclosure threshold for party donations increases from $5,000 to $6,000. The timeframe for disclosing donations of more than $20,000 increases from 10 to 20 working days in election years.
- The requirement for promoter statements in election advertising to include a street address is being changed due to safety concerns for candidates. From next year, promoter statements must include one of the following – a street address, email address, PO Box number, phone number or link to a website with contact details.
Streamlining election processes
A number of changes recommended by the Electoral Commission will improve election processes.
- The deadline for party registrations and logo changes will be the start of the regulated period to give more transparency for the public and to help the Commission finalise its systems to produce ballot papers and election results.
- There will be a single deadline for all candidate nominations rather than separate dates for parties and individuals.
- Election advertising expenditure limits will be adjusted once each parliamentary term from 1 January in election year instead of annually.
Other key changes
Other changes introduced by Parliament will take effect in time for the 2026 General Election.
- An advance voting period of 12 days is set in the law.
- Enrolment closes 13 days before election day. People must enrol or update their address before voting starts.
- The current ban on voting for prisoners sentenced to more than three years is extended to also include prisoners sentenced to less than three years for offences committed after the Bill takes effect.
- It will be an offence to improperly influence a person’s roll choice - Māori roll or general roll - when enrolling or switching roll types, for example by offering money or a gift.
- It will be an offence to offer free food, drink or entertainment within 100m of a voting place during voting hours.