What changed for 2026: the Electoral Amendment Act 2025 explained
Enrolment now closes 13 days before election day, there's no election day enrolment, and prisoners can't vote. Here's every change in the 2025 law and what it means for you.
In this guide
The 2026 election is the first held under the Electoral Amendment Act 2025, which Parliament passed on 16 December 2025 and which received royal assent on 19 December. It changed when you can enrol, who can vote and what's allowed around voting places.
If you missed the enrolment deadline or you're wondering why things feel different this year, this guide explains it.
Quick answer
- Enrolment closes 13 days before election day. For 2026, that was midnight on 25 October.
- No election day enrolment. You can't enrol and vote on the day any more.
- All sentenced prisoners are barred from voting.
- Free food, drink (except water) and entertainment are banned within 100 metres of voting place entrances.
- The donation disclosure threshold rose from $5,000 to $6,000.
- Māori voters can switch rolls up to three months before election day.
The changes, one by one
Enrolment closes earlier
Before 2026, you could enrol right up to and including election day. Now enrolment closes 13 days before election day. For 2026 that was midnight on Sunday 25 October, the night before advance voting opened.
People who enrolled after writ day, 4 October, can still vote, but they cast a special vote, which is checked and counted after election night.
No election day enrolment
Same-day enrolment had become popular. At recent elections, tens of thousands of people enrolled during advance voting or on the day itself. That option is gone for 2026.
Missed it? If you didn't enrol by 25 October, you can't vote in the 2026 general election. You can enrol now at vote.nz for future elections and by-elections.
Prisoner voting
The Act bars all people serving a prison sentence from voting while in prison. Before this change, prisoners serving sentences of less than three years could vote.
Voting place rules
Free food, drink (other than water) and entertainment are now banned within 100 metres of a voting place entrance. This targets "sausage sizzle" style events near voting places.
Donations
The threshold above which political donations must be disclosed rose from $5,000 to $6,000.
Māori roll option
Māori voters can now move between the general roll and the Māori roll up until three months before election day. For 2026, the cut-off was 6 August. See Māori electorates explained.
What it means for the count
The biggest practical effect is more special votes. The Electoral Commission expects about 700,000 in 2026, up from 603,257 in 2023. Special votes take longer to process, and the Commission has said it can't produce official results in under 20 days. That's why the official result is due on 27 November.
Special votes keep growing
- 2017446,287
- 2020504,621
- 2023603,257
- 2026~700,000
Why the changes were made
The government argued that closing enrolment earlier would ease pressure on election day, reduce the number of votes needing checks, and help produce results faster and more accurately. Critics, including some electoral law experts and opposition parties, argued it would make it harder for young people, people who move often, and others to vote. Both sides' arguments were aired in Parliament and in submissions. We don't take a position. Turnout figures from 2026 will feed into that debate.
What hasn't changed
- MMP rules. The 5% threshold, the one-electorate rule and overhang seats all work the same as in 2023. See how MMP works.
- Voting age. Still 18.
- Election day campaigning ban. Still in place until 7pm. See election day rules.
- Hand counting. Every vote is still counted by hand. See how votes are counted.
Questions and answers
Can I enrol on election day in 2026?
No. Election day enrolment was abolished by the Electoral Amendment Act 2025. Enrolment closed at midnight on 25 October 2026.
I missed the enrolment deadline. Can I still vote?
Not in the 2026 general election. You can enrol now at vote.nz for future elections.
Can prisoners vote in the 2026 NZ election?
No. The 2025 law bars everyone serving a prison sentence from voting.
Why are there more special votes in 2026?
Partly because anyone who enrolled after writ day on 4 October casts a special vote, and partly because of boundary changes and people voting outside their electorate.
Did the 5% threshold change?
No. The threshold is still 5% of the party vote, or one electorate seat.
Sources
- Electoral Commission: Electoral Amendment Act 2025 changes and enrolment dates.
- vote.nz: enrolment.
- 2026 New Zealand general election: legislative background.
This guide is general information about New Zealand elections, checked against the sources linked above on 3 November 2026. For anything about your own enrolment or vote, check vote.nz or call the Electoral Commission on 0800 36 76 56.
Keep reading
How to vote in the 2026 NZ election: a step-by-step guide
Where to vote, what to take, how to fill in the ballot paper, and what to do if you've moved, lost your EasyVote card or need help. Everything for 7 November 2026.
Special votes explained: why the result can change after election night
About 700,000 special votes are expected in 2026. Here's who casts them, why they're counted later, how they've changed seat numbers before and when the official result lands.
Election day rules in NZ: what you can and can't do on 7 November
No campaigning, no social posts about parties, no ballot selfies. A clear guide to New Zealand's election day rules for voters, social media, businesses and media.