How to vote in the 2026 NZ election: a step-by-step guide

Voting in New Zealand takes about five minutes. You can vote at any voting place in the country, you don't need ID, and you don't need your EasyVote card. Here's exactly what happens, step by step.

Before you go

1. Check you're enrolled. Enrolment for 2026 closed at midnight on 25 October. If you enrolled by then, you can vote. If you enrolled after writ day on 4 October, you'll cast a special vote.
2. Find a voting place. Use vote.nz to find voting places and opening hours. You can vote anywhere, but voting in your own electorate is quicker because you'll cast an ordinary vote.
3. Bring your EasyVote card if you have it. It has your roll details, which speeds things up. If you've lost it, just give your name and address.
4. Know your two votes. Have a look at the parties and candidates beforehand. Our parties guide is a neutral starting point.

At the voting place, step by step

1. Go to the issuing desk. Give the staff your EasyVote card or tell them your name and address.
2. Your name is crossed off the roll. This stops anyone voting twice. You'll be handed a ballot paper.
3. Go to a private voting screen. Take your time.
4. Make your party vote. On the left side, tick the circle next to one party.
5. Make your electorate vote. On the right side, tick the circle next to one candidate.
6. Check your paper. Make sure there's one tick on each side and nothing else that makes your choice unclear.
7. Fold it and put it in the ballot box. That's it. You're done.

Made a mistake? Don't put it in the box. Take it back to the staff and ask for a new ballot paper. They'll cancel the spoiled one.

How to fill in the ballot paper

The party vote matters most for who governs, because it decides each party's share of the 120 seats. Read how MMP works.

You can leave one side blank if you want to. Your other vote still counts.

If something's different for you

• You've moved and didn't update your details. Vote anyway. You may cast a special vote, which is checked and counted after election night.
• You're not on the roll at the voting place. Staff will help you cast a special vote. They'll check your enrolment afterwards.
• You're on the unpublished roll. Tell the staff. You'll cast a special vote to keep your details private.
• You're away from home. Vote at any voting place in New Zealand. It will be a special vote.
• You're overseas. See our overseas voting guide. Overseas voting places close by 6 November, and downloaded voting papers must be uploaded by 7pm New Zealand time on 7 November.

Help to vote

• Help at the voting place. You can take someone with you to help, or ask staff.
• Dictation voting. If you're blind, have low vision or can't mark a paper, you can vote by phone through the Electoral Commission's dictation service.
• Accessible voting places. vote.nz shows which voting places are wheelchair accessible.
• Interpreters and translated information. Information is available in many languages at vote.nz, and you can bring someone to interpret.
• Takeaway votes. If you can't get to a voting place because of illness or disability, you can ask someone to collect voting papers for you.

Election day dos and don'ts

On election day, campaigning is banned everywhere until 7pm. You can wear a party lapel badge or rosette, but no other campaign material. Don't take a photo of your ballot paper. See election day rules for the full list.

Questions and answers

Sources

• vote.nz: voting places, enrolment and how to vote.
• Electoral Commission: 2026 dates and rules.

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.