Electoral Act 1993

Elections - Voting

166: Questions may be put to voters

You could also call this:

"Voting officers can ask you questions to check you can vote."

When you go to vote, the issuing officer might ask you some questions. They will ask if you are the person listed on the electoral roll, and if you have already voted in the election. The issuing officer will ask you to answer these questions in writing and sign your name. If you do not answer the questions, or if you answer them incorrectly, you might have to pay a fine of up to $1,000 and you will not be able to vote in that election.

If you deliberately give a false answer to one of the questions, you could be fined up to $1,000. The issuing officer is allowed to ask you these questions to make sure you are eligible to vote. You must answer the questions truthfully to avoid any problems.

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This page was last updated on 18 July 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM309826.

Topics:

Government and voting > Elections

165: Voters not to be communicated with in polling place, or

"No talking to voters at polling stations except by election helpers."

167: Issue of ordinary ballot papers, or

"Getting a ballot paper to cast your vote"

Part 6Elections
Voting

166Questions may be put to voters

The issuing officer may, and if so required by any scrutineer shall, before allowing any person to vote, put to that person the following questions:
are you the person whose name appears as AB in the electoral roll now in force for the [name of district] Electoral District?
have you already voted at this election in this or any other electoral district?

In every such case the issuing officer shall require the questions to be answered in writing signed by the person to whom they are put.
Every person to whom those questions are put who does not answer them, or does not answer the first in the affirmative and the second in the negative, shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000, and shall be prohibited from voting then or afterwards at that election.
Every person who wilfully and knowingly makes a false answer to either of the questions that the issuing officer may put to that person under this section shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000.

Notes

Section 166(1): amended, on 28 February 2002, by section 101(1) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 1).
Section 166(2): amended, on 28 February 2002, by section 101(1) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 1).
Section 166(3): amended, on 1 July 2013, by section 413 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 (2011 No 81).
Section 166(4): amended, on 1 July 2013, by section 413 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 (2011 No 81).
Section 166(4): amended, on 28 February 2002, by section 101(1) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 1).