Local Electoral Act 2001

Conduct of elections and polls - Candidacy

55: Nomination of candidates

You could also call this:

"How to choose someone to stand in an election"

Illustration for Local Electoral Act 2001

You can nominate a person to be a candidate in an election. You need two electors to do this. They must follow the rules and do it before 12 noon on nomination day. You cannot nominate someone unless they agree to it in writing. They must also say they are qualified to be a candidate under section 25 and not disqualified under section 58. The people nominating the candidate must be qualified to do so. When you nominate someone, you must give their name and any group they belong to. You must also say if they want to be called an independent candidate. Anyone can look at the nominations without paying a fee during office hours.

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This page was last updated on 26 November 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM94331.

Topics:

Government and voting > Elections

54: Additional material to be included in notice in respect of poll, or

"What to expect from a poll: extra information you will see in the notice"

56: Name of candidate, or

"What name you can use when you want to be a candidate"

Part 3Conduct of elections and polls
Candidacy

55Nomination of candidates

Any 2 electors who are qualified to nominate a candidate may nominate a person who is qualified to be a candidate as a candidate at an election—
in the prescribed manner; and
before 12 noon on nomination day (the close of nominations).

An electoral officer must not accept the nomination of a candidate unless—
the person nominated, by notice in writing, consents to nomination and certifies that he or she is qualified to be a candidate under section 25 and is not disqualified under section 58; and
the person nominated is qualified to be a candidate; and
each of the persons who nominated the candidate are persons other than the candidate; and
the persons who nominated the candidate are qualified to nominate the candidate; and
the nomination complies with subsections (1) and (4); and
the electoral officer receives the deposit prescribed for the applicable class of elections; and
the electoral officer receives the following together:
1. the nomination paper required by subsection (1):
2. the consent and certification required by paragraph (a):
3. the deposit required by paragraph (e).

The consent and certification required by subsection (2)(a) may be given in a manner other than in writing that is approved by the electoral officer.
A nomination under subsection (1) must state—
the name under which the candidate is seeking election:
any organisation or group with which the candidate claims to be affiliated for the purposes of identifying that affiliation in the voting documents at the election:
whether or not a candidate who does not claim any affiliation referred to in paragraph (b) wishes to be identified in the voting documents at the election as an independent candidate.

Any person may inspect any nomination or consent without payment of any fee at any time during ordinary office hours at the office of the electoral officer.

Notes

Section 55(2)(ba): inserted, on 25 December 2002, by section 19(1) of the Local Electoral Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 85).
Section 55(2)(e): replaced, on 29 June 2013, by section 16(1) of the Local Electoral Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 40).
Section 55(2)(f): inserted, on 29 June 2013, by section 16(1) of the Local Electoral Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 40).
Section 55(3): replaced, on 29 June 2013, by section 16(2) of the Local Electoral Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 40).
Section 55(3): amended, on 31 August 2023, by section 29 of the Local Government Electoral Legislation Act 2023 (2023 No 57).