Electoral Act 1993

Elections - Issue of writ

142: Electoral Commission to give notice of nomination day and nomination process

You could also call this:

"Electoral Commission tells you when and how to nominate for an election"

You need to know when people can nominate themselves for an election. The Electoral Commission tells you when this happens. They also tell you how to nominate yourself. When the Prime Minister says when the election is, or when the Governor-General issues a writ for a general election, the Electoral Commission gives you notice. They do this for by-elections too, when the Speaker publishes a notice of vacancy or the Governor-General issues a writ. The Electoral Commission must tell you the date of nomination day and how to submit nominations. They can give you notice in any way they think is appropriate.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM309490.

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

Topics:

Government and voting > Elections

141: Returning Officer to be notified of writ, or

"Tell the Returning Officer when a writ is issued"

143: Nominations of candidates for electoral districts, or

"How to become a candidate for an electoral district"

Part 6Elections
Issue of writ

142Electoral Commission to give notice of nomination day and nomination process

This section applies,—
in respect of a general election, on the earlier of the following:
1. the day on which the Prime Minister gives public notice of the day that is to be polling day for a general election; and
2. the day on which the Governor-General issues, under section 125, a writ for a general election; or
in respect of a by-election, on the day on which either of the following occurs:
1. the Speaker publishes, under section 129(1), a notice of vacancy in the seat of a member of Parliament elected to represent an electoral district that is to be filled by a by-election:
2. the Governor-General issues, under section 153E(2), a writ for a fresh election in a district.

If this section applies, the Electoral Commission must give notice to the public of the following matters:
the date of nomination day; and
the requirements for submitting nominations of candidates.

Notice may be given in any manner that the Electoral Commission considers appropriate.

Notes

Section 142: replaced, on 20 December 2025, by section 72 of the Electoral Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 82).