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New Zealand law explained for everyone

Electoral Act 1993

Elections - Polling at elections

158: Appointment of polling place officials

You could also call this:

"Who helps run the voting places on election day"

Illustration for Electoral Act 1993

When you vote in an election, there are people who help make sure everything runs smoothly at the polling place. The Returning Officer chooses these people and writes down their names. They pick as many people as they think are needed to help with the voting and counting the votes. The Returning Officer also chooses one of these people to be in charge of the polling place, and they tell them in writing. The Returning Officer can give some of these people special jobs, like giving out ballot papers or helping people who speak different languages. If the person in charge is away, the Returning Officer can choose someone to take their place, and they can tell them in writing or in person on the day of the election. The Returning Officer can also ask another Returning Officer to help with these jobs. If you are one of the people chosen to help at a polling place, the Public Service Act 2020 does not apply to you.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM309695.

Topics:
Government and voting > Elections
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"What you need to vote at a polling place"

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158A: Polling place officials under direction of Electoral Commission and Returning Officer, or

"People in charge tell polling place staff what to do"

Part 6Elections
Polling at elections

158Appointment of polling place officials

  1. The Returning Officer must, for each polling place, appoint in writing as many polling place officials as the Returning Officer thinks are required for the conduct of the poll, and the preliminary count of votes, at that place.

  2. The Returning Officer must, in relation to each polling place, designate, by notice in writing, one of the polling place officials as the manager of the place.

  3. The Returning Officer may, in relation to each polling place,—

  4. authorise in writing 1 or more polling place officials to issue ballot papers at the place; and
    1. designate in writing 1 or more of the polling place officials as interpreters; and
      1. authorise in writing or, if the appointment is made on polling day, orally, any person to act for the manager of the polling place in case of the manager’s absence.

        1. The Returning Officer for an electoral district may delegate his or her duties and powers under subsections (1) to (3) to a Returning Officer for another electoral district.

        2. The Public Service Act 2020 does not apply to a person appointed under this section.

        Notes
        • Section 158: substituted, on , by section 63 of the Electoral Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 1).
        • Section 158(5): amended, on , by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).