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Electoral Act 1993

Registration of electors - Electoral rolls

109: Dormant roll

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"People who are not on the voting list, but might vote again"

Illustration for Electoral Act 1993

The Electoral Commission keeps a list called the dormant roll. You are on this list if your name was removed from the electoral roll under certain sections like section 89G, section 95A(4), or section 96(4). The Electoral Commission removes your name from the dormant roll when you register to vote again or when you die and they are told about it. They also remove your name after three years if you do not register to vote again.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM309145.

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Part 5Registration of electors
Electoral rolls

109Dormant roll

  1. The Electoral Commission must maintain a dormant roll that shows for each district the particulars of those persons whose names have been removed from the roll for the relevant district—

  2. under section 89G; or
    1. as a result of the removal of the name of that person from the roll under section 95A(4) or 96(4).

      1. The Electoral Commission must remove the name of a person from the dormant roll on the first occurrence of any of the following events:

      2. in the case of a person whose name has been removed from the electoral roll under section 89G, when the person registers as an elector of any district; or
        1. in the case of a person whose name has been removed from the electoral roll under section 95A(4) or section 96(4), when the person registers as an elector of any district; or
          1. in the case of a person whose name has been removed from the electoral roll under section 89G, 95A(4), or 96(4), when the person is registered as an elector of any district on the initiative of the Electoral Commission under section 89CB; or
            1. in the case of a person who dies, when the Electoral Commission is satisfied of the identity of the person and the death has been notified to the Electoral Commission—
              1. by any Registrar of Births and Deaths; or
                1. by the father, mother, spouse, civil union partner, de facto partner, sister, or brother of the person; or
                  1. by the administrator of the estate of the person; or
                  2. the expiration of the period of 3 years beginning with the date on which the person’s name was placed on the dormant roll.

                    1. The Electoral Commission must keep, for the purposes of the next election to be held in the district to which the dormant roll relates, a copy of the dormant roll as it exists on polling day.

                    2. The Electoral Commission must from time to time cause to be printed a computer-compiled list showing, in relation to each person whose name appears on the dormant roll, the person’s name and place of residence last shown on the roll.

                    3. The dormant roll as it exists on polling day may be used for the purpose of determining whether any person is qualified, under section 60(c) or (d), to vote at any election held in the district to which the roll relates.

                    Notes
                    • Section 109: substituted, on , by section 34 of the Electoral Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 1).
                    • Section 109(1): replaced, on , by section 53(1) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 9).
                    • Section 109(1)(b): amended, on , by section 28(1) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 82).
                    • Section 109(2): amended, on , by section 53(2) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 9).
                    • Section 109(2)(a): amended, on , by section 45 of the Electoral Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 8).
                    • Section 109(2)(b): amended, on , by section 28(2) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 82).
                    • Section 109(2)(ba): inserted, on , by section 28(3) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 82).
                    • Section 109(2)(c): amended, on , by section 53(3) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 9).
                    • Section 109(2)(c)(ii): amended, on , by section 7 of the Relationships (Statutory References) Act 2005 (2005 No 3).
                    • Section 109(3): amended, on , by section 9(1) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2020 (2020 No 2).
                    • Section 109(3): amended, on , by section 53(4) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 9).
                    • Section 109(4): amended, on , by section 9(2) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2020 (2020 No 2).
                    • Section 109(4): amended, on , by section 53(4) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 9).
                    • Section 109(5): amended, on , by section 9(1) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2020 (2020 No 2).