Voting from overseas in the 2026 NZ election: who can, how, and by when
New Zealanders abroad can vote in the 2026 election if they meet the residence rules. Here's who's eligible, how to download and upload voting papers, and the deadline.
In this guide
Hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders live overseas, and many of them can vote in the 2026 election. Overseas voting opened on 21 October and the final deadline is 7pm New Zealand time on Saturday 7 November. Most people vote by downloading their voting papers and uploading them online.
Quick answer
- Citizens can vote if they've been in New Zealand in the last three years.
- Permanent residents can vote if they've been in New Zealand in the last 12 months.
- Everyone must have lived in New Zealand continuously for at least a year at some point.
- How: download, fill in and upload your voting papers at vote.nz/overseas.
- Deadline: uploads must be in by 7pm NZ time on 7 November 2026.
Who can vote from overseas?
| You are | You can vote if | Plus |
|---|---|---|
| A New Zealand citizen | You've been in New Zealand in the last 3 years | You've lived in NZ continuously for 12 months at some point |
| A permanent resident | You've been in New Zealand in the last 12 months | You've lived in NZ continuously for 12 months at some point |
You also need to have been enrolled. Enrolment for 2026 closed at midnight New Zealand time on 25 October. If you weren't enrolled by then, you can't vote in this election, but you can enrol now for the future.
How to vote from overseas, step by step
- Go to vote.nz/overseas. Follow the overseas voting link.
- Download your voting papers. You'll get a ballot paper with your party vote and electorate vote, plus a declaration.
- Fill them in. Tick one party and one candidate, just as you would at home. See how to vote.
- Complete the declaration. This confirms you're eligible.
- Upload your papers. Scan or photograph them and upload them through the Electoral Commission's secure system.
- Or post or deliver them. Some voters return papers by post or to an overseas voting place, but you must allow plenty of time.
Some New Zealand embassies and high commissions also run in-person voting. Those overseas voting places close by 6 November, because of time differences.
Time zones and the deadline
The deadline is 7pm on 7 November New Zealand Daylight Time, which is 6am UTC. That's:
| City | Local deadline |
|---|---|
| Sydney | 5pm, Saturday 7 November |
| Singapore | 2pm, Saturday 7 November |
| London | 6am, Saturday 7 November |
| Los Angeles | 10pm, Friday 6 November |
| New York | 1am, Saturday 7 November |
Don't leave it to the last minute, especially if your internet connection is unreliable.
How overseas votes are counted
Overseas votes are special votes. They're checked against the roll and counted after election night, then included in the official result on 27 November. Votes from overseas can arrive up to 10 days after election day. In 2017, more than 61,000 special votes came from overseas.
Special votes keep growing
- 2017446,287
- 2020504,621
- 2023603,257
- 2026~700,000
Following the results from overseas
You can follow the count from anywhere on our live results page and on the official results site. Radio streams usually work overseas. Some TV streams are geo-blocked. See how to follow election night.
Questions and answers
Can I vote in the NZ election if I live overseas?
Yes, if you're enrolled and you're a citizen who has been in New Zealand in the last three years, or a permanent resident who has been in New Zealand in the last 12 months.
How do I vote from overseas?
Download your voting papers from vote.nz/overseas, fill them in, and upload them before 7pm NZ time on 7 November 2026.
When does overseas voting close?
Uploaded votes must be in by 7pm New Zealand time on Saturday 7 November. In-person overseas voting places close by 6 November.
Is an overseas vote counted on election night?
No. Overseas votes are special votes, counted after election night and included in the official result on 27 November.
I've been away for more than three years. Can I still vote?
Not as a citizen in this election. You need to have been in New Zealand within the last three years. If you return, you can re-enrol for future elections.
Sources
- vote.nz/overseas: eligibility and how to vote from overseas.
- Electoral Commission: overseas voting dates and special vote counts.
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.
How to follow NZ election night 2026: live updates, TV, streams and radio
Every way to follow election night on Saturday 7 November: TV specials, free streams, radio, live blogs and live results, plus a simple plan for the night.