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Electoral Act 1993

Registration of electors - Registration

86B: Registration of prisoners serving sentence of imprisonment who are not disqualified for registration under section 80(1)(d)

You could also call this:

"How prisoners can register to vote"

Illustration for Electoral Act 1993

You are a prisoner serving a sentence of imprisonment. You are not stopped from registering under section 80(1)(d) of the Electoral Act 1993. The prison manager must tell you about registering to vote. You can register to vote if you are 18 or older and a New Zealand citizen. You must have lived in New Zealand for at least one year. The prison manager will ask if you want to register to vote. If you want to register, the prison manager will send your details to the Electoral Commission. This will help you register to vote. You can read more about this in section 86E of the Electoral Act 1993.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS370170.

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Topics:
Government and voting > Elections
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Part 5Registration of electors
Registration

86BRegistration of prisoners serving sentence of imprisonment who are not disqualified for registration under section 80(1)(d)

  1. This section applies in respect of a prisoner who is sentenced to a term of imprisonment and who—

  2. is not disqualified under section 80(1)(d)(i) from registration; or
    1. was disqualified under section 80(1)(d)(i) from registration but who has had their sentence of imprisonment reduced or altered on appeal, or following a retrial, to a term of less than 3 years.

      1. The prison manager must, as soon as is reasonably practicable,—

      2. advise the prisoner that,—
        1. if they are of or over the age of 18 years and they are a New Zealand citizen or a resident for electoral purposes (as defined in section 73) and have at some time resided continuously in New Zealand for a period of not less than 1 year, they are qualified to be registered as an elector of an electoral district and are required by section 82 to apply to the Electoral Commission for registration as an elector; or
          1. if they are of or over the age of 17 years, but under 18 years, and they are a New Zealand citizen or a resident for electoral purposes (as defined in section 73) and have at some time resided continuously in New Zealand for a period of not less than 1 year, they may apply to the Electoral Commission for registration as an elector; and
          2. ask the prisoner whether they want their registration details sent to the Electoral Commission to facilitate their registration as an elector.

            1. If the prisoner wants their registration details sent to the Electoral Commission to facilitate their registration as an elector, section 86E applies.

            Notes
            • Section 86B: replaced, on , by section 13 of the Electoral Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 82).