Electoral Act 1993

Registration of electors - Registration

82: Compulsory registration of electors

You could also call this:

"You must register to vote if you can, or you might get a fine."

You must register as an elector if you are qualified and in New Zealand. You have one month to apply to the Electoral Commission after you become qualified. If you stop being registered, you have one month to apply again. You can apply to the Electoral Commission if you are 17 years old, but you do not have to. If you are outside New Zealand, you can apply to register at any time. If you are Maori, you can choose which electoral district to register in. If you do not apply when you are supposed to, you can get a fine. The fine can be up to $100 for a first offence and $200 for later offences. You will not be prosecuted if you apply for registration after failing to do so earlier.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM308853.

This page was last updated on 14 January 2026 — View changes

Topics:

Government and voting > Elections

81: Prison manager to forward to Electoral Commission details of prisoners disqualified for registration, or

"Prison managers must tell the Electoral Commission about prisoners who can't vote"

83: Application for registration, or

"How to sign up to vote in New Zealand"

Part 5Registration of electors
Registration

82Compulsory registration of electors

A person who is qualified to be registered as an elector of any electoral district and who is in New Zealand must apply to the Electoral Commission for registration as an elector—
within 1 month after the date on which he or she first becomes qualified to be registered as an elector:
within 1 month after the date on which he or she ceases to be registered as an elector by reason of the inclusion of his or her name on the dormant roll under section 89G.

Any person aged 17 years or older, but under 18 years, may apply to the Electoral Commission for registration as an elector, and that person is not then required to apply for registration as an elector on attaining the age of 18 years.
A person who is qualified to be registered as an elector of any electoral district and who is outside New Zealand may apply at any time to the Electoral Commission for registration as an elector.
Where a Maori is qualified to be registered as an elector of both a Maori electoral district and a General electoral district, that person may apply for registration as an elector of only one of those districts, being the district in respect of which that person has exercised his or her option under section 76.
A person commits an offence against this section who, being required by this section to apply for registration as an elector during any period, knowingly and wilfully fails to apply.
A person who applies for registration as an elector is not liable to prosecution for his or her earlier failure to apply for registration as an elector.
A person who is registered as an elector by the Electoral Commission under section 89CB is not liable to prosecution for their earlier failure to apply for registration as an elector.
A person who commits an offence against this section is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding—
$100 on a first conviction; and
$200 on a second or subsequent conviction.

Notes

Section 82: replaced, on 25 March 2014, by section 17 of the Electoral Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 8).
Section 82(1): amended, on 21 March 2017, by section 23 of the Electoral Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 9).
Section 82(2): amended, on 21 March 2017, by section 23 of the Electoral Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 9).
Section 82(3): amended, on 21 March 2017, by section 23 of the Electoral Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 9).
Section 82(6A): inserted, on 20 December 2025, by section 24 of the Electoral Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 82).