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Electoral Act 1993

Registration of electors - Change of address

89C: Elector must give notice of change of place of residence to different electoral district

You could also call this:

"Tell the Electoral Commission if you move to a new area"

Illustration for Electoral Act 1993

If you move to a new electoral district, you must tell the Electoral Commission. You have two months to do this after you move. You need to give them your new address and the date you moved. You can tell them in an approved electronic medium, or in writing using a form they approve. You can also apply to the Electoral Commission to register as an elector under section 83. If you have a physical or mental impairment, you can get someone to tell the Electoral Commission for you. Section 86 applies in this case. If you do not tell the Electoral Commission, you might get a fine. The fine can be up to $100 for the first time and up to $200 if it happens again. But you will not get in trouble if you tell the Electoral Commission before they start a prosecution against you. You can also avoid trouble if the Electoral Commission moves your name to the new electoral district under section 89CA.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6011662.

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Topics:
Government and voting > Elections
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89CA: Electoral Commission updating elector’s address on electoral roll without receipt of notice from elector, or

"The Electoral Commission can update your address on the electoral roll without you asking them."

Part 5Registration of electors
Change of address

89CElector must give notice of change of place of residence to different electoral district

  1. This section applies to an elector who, being registered as an elector of an electoral district, changes his or her place of residence to a different electoral district (the new electoral district).

  2. The elector must, within 2 months after the date on which he or she changed his or her place of residence, give notice of—

  3. the change in his or her place of residence; and
    1. the date on which the change occurred; and
      1. the address of the new place of residence.

        1. Notice under subsection (2) must be given—

        2. in an approved electronic medium; or
          1. in writing to the Electoral Commission in a form that the Electoral Commission has approved; or
            1. by applying, under section 83, to the Electoral Commission for registration as an elector.

              1. An elector who has a physical or mental impairment may give notice under subsection (2) through a representative, and section 86 applies with any necessary modifications.

              2. For the purposes of section 89(1), an elector who gives notice under subsection (2) (by any method specified in subsection (3)) is an applicant for registration as an elector.

              3. Repealed

              4. Repealed

              5. Repealed

              6. Repealed

              7. Repealed

              8. Repealed

              9. Repealed

              10. Repealed

              11. An elector who knowingly or wilfully fails to comply with subsection (2) commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine—

              12. not exceeding $100 on a first conviction; and
                1. not exceeding $200 on any subsequent conviction.

                  1. However, a person is not liable for prosecution for an offence under subsection (14) if, before the commencement of the prosecution,—

                  2. the person gives notice, in accordance with subsection (3), of the matters specified in subsection (2)(a), (b), and (c); or
                    1. the Electoral Commission has, under section 89CA, removed the person’s name from the electoral roll for the district in which the elector is registered and entered the person’s name and particulars on the electoral roll for new electoral district.

                      1. Repealed
                      Notes
                      • Section 89C: inserted, on , by section 22 of the Electoral Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 8).
                      • Section 89C(2): replaced, on , by section 30(1) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 9).
                      • Section 89C(3)(b): replaced, on , by section 30(2) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 9).
                      • Section 89C(3)(c): replaced, on , by section 30(2) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 9).
                      • Section 89C(5): replaced, on , by section 30(3) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 9).
                      • Section 89C(6): repealed, on , by section 30(3) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 9).
                      • Section 89C(7): repealed, on , by section 30(3) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 9).
                      • Section 89C(8): repealed, on , by section 30(3) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 9).
                      • Section 89C(9): repealed, on , by section 30(3) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 9).
                      • Section 89C(10): repealed, on , by section 30(3) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 9).
                      • Section 89C(11): repealed, on , by section 30(3) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 9).
                      • Section 89C(12): repealed, on , by section 30(3) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 9).
                      • Section 89C(13): repealed, on , by section 30(3) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 9).
                      • Section 89C(15): replaced, on , by section 26 of the Electoral Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 82).
                      • Section 89C(16): repealed, on , by section 30(4) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 9).