Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Electoral Act 1993

Registration of electors - Updating of electoral rolls

89D: Inquiry to be made to update electoral rolls

You could also call this:

"Checking and updating the electoral roll to ensure your details are correct"

Illustration for Electoral Act 1993

The Electoral Commission checks the electoral rolls to make sure they are up to date. They do this about every 12 months before a Parliament ends, and at other times they decide. You will get a notice to check your details are correct. The Electoral Commission also checks the rolls before local elections, as stated in section 10(2) of the Local Electoral Act 2001. They check the details of people who are registered to vote in a district and live in a local government area. If your details are wrong, you need to tell the Electoral Commission. You can do this by sending the correct details to the Electoral Commission or by using an electronic method they approve. If you have a disability, someone can help you do this, following section 86. The Electoral Commission uses the details from your application to register as an elector to update the roll. The Electoral Commission will send you a notice with your details on it, or tell you how to access them electronically. You must tell the Electoral Commission if any of your details have changed. This helps keep the electoral rolls up to date and accurate.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6011672.

This page was last updated on — View changes

Topics:
Government and voting > ElectionsGovernment and voting > Local councils
Previous

89CB: Electoral Commission may remove person’s name from dormant roll and register person as elector, or

"The Electoral Commission can move you to the main electoral roll if they think you should vote in your area."

Next

89DA: Updating Māori option details, or

"Changing which Māori electoral roll you are on"

Part 5Registration of electors
Updating of electoral rolls

89DInquiry to be made to update electoral rolls

  1. The Electoral Commission must make an inquiry into the particulars on the roll for every person registered as an elector of a district at the following times:

  2. if practicable, within the period of 12 months ending with the day on which a Parliament is due to expire; and
    1. at any other time determined by the Electoral Commission.

      1. Additionally, in any year in which a triennial general election of members of any local authority is due to be held in accordance with section 10(2) of the Local Electoral Act 2001, the Electoral Commission must make an inquiry into the particulars on the roll for every person who—

      2. is registered as an elector of a district; and
        1. appears from those particulars to reside within a particular local government area.

          1. Repealed

          2. If a roll that is not yet in force has been compiled under section 101(1), the inquiry to be made under this section must be in respect of that roll.

          3. An inquiry may be made by giving to every elector in respect of whom an inquiry is made a written notice that—

          4. must—
            1. contain some or all of the particulars on the roll for the elector to whom it is addressed; or
              1. contain information about how the elector can access his or her particulars electronically; and
              2. must require the elector, if any of those particulars have changed or are incorrect, to notify the Electoral Commission by—
                1. sending the corrected particulars to the Electoral Commission in a form that the Electoral Commission has approved; or
                  1. using an approved electronic medium to make any change or correction required to the particulars.

                  2. An elector who has a physical or mental impairment may give a notification required by subsection (5) through a representative, and section 86 applies with any necessary modifications.

                  3. For the purposes of this section,—

                  4. a person registered as an elector includes any person of or over the age of 17 years who has had an application to register as an elector accepted by the Electoral Commission; and
                    1. the particulars contained in the application to register are the particulars on the roll for that person.

                      Notes
                      • Section 89D: inserted, on , by section 22 of the Electoral Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 8).
                      • Section 89D(1): replaced, on , by section 31(1) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 82).
                      • Section 89D(2): replaced, on , by section 31(1) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 82).
                      • Section 89D(3): repealed, on , by section 31(1) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 82).
                      • Section 89D(4): amended, on , by section 31(2) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 82).
                      • Section 89D(5): replaced, on , by section 31(6) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 9).
                      • Section 89D(5): amended, on , by section 31(3) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 82).
                      • Section 89D(5)(a)(i): amended, on , by section 31(4) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 82).
                      • Section 89D(7)(a): amended, on , by section 31(7) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 9).