Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Electoral Act 1993

Elections - Polling at elections

159: Exercise of powers and duties of polling place officials

You could also call this:

"People in charge of voting stations and their helpers have important jobs and responsibilities"

Illustration for Electoral Act 1993

The Returning Officer can do all the jobs of a polling place manager. You can think of the Returning Officer as the person in charge of the election process in a certain area. A polling place manager is the person who runs a voting station.

A person chosen to help a polling place manager has all the same powers as the manager when they are working. This person is authorised under section 158(3)(c) to help the manager. You need to understand that this person has the same responsibilities as the manager.

Before you can work at a polling place, you must promise to follow section 203. You make this promise by signing a special form that the Electoral Commission has approved. The form must be witnessed, which means someone must watch you sign it and confirm that you signed it.

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This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM309699.

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Part 6Elections
Polling at elections

159Exercise of powers and duties of polling place officials

  1. The Returning Officer may exercise in person all the powers, duties, and functions of a manager of a polling place.

  2. A person authorised under section 158(3)(c) has, while acting for a manager of a polling place, all the powers, duties, and functions of the manager.

  3. Every polling place official must, before being allowed to act, declare that he or she will comply with section 203.

  4. The declaration must—

  5. be in a form that the Electoral Commission has approved; and
    1. be witnessed as specified in the form.

      Notes
      • Section 159: substituted, on , by section 63 of the Electoral Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 1).
      • Section 159(3): replaced, on , by section 78 of the Electoral Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 9).
      • Section 159(3A): inserted, on , by section 78 of the Electoral Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 9).