Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Electoral Act 1993

Introduction

You could also call this:

"Changing How New Zealand Elects Its Leaders"

Illustration for Electoral Act 1993

This law is about changing the way elections work. You will vote on a new system called mixed member proportional. If most people vote for this new system, it will be used to elect members to the House of Representatives. You can read more about this system in the Electoral Referendum Act 1993. A new group called the Electoral Commission will be set up. This group will help with elections. The Electoral Commission will have new jobs to do. The old Electoral Act from 1956 will be replaced. This means the new rules will be used instead of the old ones. You can find out more about the changes to the electoral system by reading the law.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM307518.

This page was last updated on — View changes

Highlights from this law

Topics:
Government and voting > Elections
Next

1: Short Title, or

"The name of this law is the Electoral Act 1993."

Electoral Act 1993

Reprint as at:
2026-01-01
Assent:
1993-08-17
Commencement:
see section 2

The Parliamentary Counsel Office has made editorial and format changes to this version using the powers under subpart 2 of Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019.

Note 4 at the end of this version provides a list of the amendments included in it.

This Act is administered by the Ministry of Justice.

An Act to reform the electoral system and to provide, in particular, if the proposal for the introduction of the mixed member proportional system is carried at the referendum held under the Electoral Referendum Act 1993,—

  • for the introduction of the mixed member proportional system of representation in relation to the House of Representatives:
    1. for the establishment of an Electoral Commission:
      1. for the repeal of the Electoral Act 1956

          1. Related legislation