Enrol to vote

The first step before any local elections, is to check that you are enrolled to vote and that your details are up-to-date and correct.

How to enrol

There are several ways you can enrol to vote or update your details to make sure you can vote on the day.

Enrolling online is the quickest and easiest way to enrol to vote.

Enrol or update your details online through the Electoral Commission website.

You can download an enrollment form here and either:

  • Email: [email protected]
  • Post:
    Electoral Commission
    FREEPOST 2 ENROL
    PO BOX 190
    Wellington 6140

You can have an enrolment form mailed to you by:

You can update your details at any time until three months before the next election by:

If you are eligible for the Māori Electoral Roll you can change to and from at any time until three months before the next election through these same methods.

Complete an enrolment form online and have it emailed or posted to you for you to sign and return to the Electoral Commission.

Further information can be found on the Electoral Commission website here.

Enrol at 17!

You don't have to be 18 years old to enrol. You can enrol from your 17th birthday so that the next time an election comes around you're all prepared to vote.

Make sure you are enrolled

The Electoral Commission works with Council to keep the electoral rolls updated. This is important because the voting information packs that you receive in the mail are tailored to your local area and the candidates who are nominated in it.

You can check or update your details online or call the Electoral Commission on 0800 36 76 56.

Once you enrol, you are enrolled for both the Central Government elections and the Local Government elections.

Voter information pack

By enrolling and checking that your details are up-to-date, you are making sure that you will receive your voter information pack in the mail.

Your pack will include:

  • Porirua City's candidate information booklet.
  • Your voting papers.
  • The envelope to return your voting papers.

Postage is paid for on the return of the envelopes, so all you need to do is drop them in the nearest post box or voting box before polling close date.

When you receive your voter information pack, check that the information is correct.

If there is an error or you have not received your voter information pack, call the Electoral Commission at 0800 36 76 56.

Ratepayer Electors

Do you live in one council district and pay rates on a property in another council district?

You may qualify to vote in both areas at the local elections.

Your eligibity to enrol or be nominated as a ratepayer elector may also depend on your individual circumstances as determined by criteria in the Local Electoral Act 2001 and its regulations.

An organisation can nominate one of its members or officers to vote on its behalf

If a firm, company, trust, corporation, society partners, joint tenants or tenants in common collectively pay rates on a property in a council district, one of the group may be nominated to be the ratepayer elector.

The person nominating and the nominated person must be registered in a parliamentary electorate at addresses outside the council district where the property is located.

You can only enrol once

You can only enrol, or be nominated to enrol, once in a council district, no matter how many properties you own in that council district. Council district includes: a city, district and regional council area; a community board area if established; the area of Auckland Council and the local boards.

New ratepayer electors

If you think you may be eligible to enrol or to nominate someone as a ratepayer elector, please visit the Ratepayer Elector Portal.