07/10/2026
If you have a disability, you have the right to vote just like anyone else. No one can stop you from voting because of your disability, including your usual support people or guardians.
You can vote if you:
-Are 18 or older
-Are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident (meaning you do not have to leave New Zealand by a certain date because of your visa)
-Have lived in New Zealand for at least 12 months at any point in your life
You have to enrol to be able to vote. You have to do this by October 25th for your vote to count.
To enrol or change your enrolment information, you can do an online form at vote.nz using your passport, drivers license, or RealMe
If you don't have a passport, drivers license, or RealMe, you can:
-Complete a PDF form or a paper form and upload it to vote.nz or email it to the Electoral Commission
-Complete a paper form and mail it to the Electoral Commission
If you need help to enrol:
Someone else can fill out your enrolment form for you. If you can sign the bottom of the form yourself, you must do this.
If you can't sign the form yourself because of a mental or physical impairment, someone else can fill out another form to do it for you.
To enroll or update your information online, you can check out vote.nz
https://vote.nz/enrolling/enrol-or-update/enrol-or-update-online
If you need help to vote:
A friend, family member or electoral official can help you at the voting place. They can go behind the voting screen with you, read out the words and information on your voting paper, and mark the voting papers for you if you ask them to.
You can use the telephone dictation service if you’re blind, partially blind or have a physical disability.
You can choose to vote at a time when the voting place will be quieter. This is usually between 9am – 11am and 2pm – 4pm, Monday to Friday.
If you can't go to a voting place because of your health or disability, someone can collect your forms and bring them to you. You have to sign a form to let them collect your papers from a voting place.
No one else can decide who you will vote for. The decision to vote, and who to vote for, must be made by you. Anyone helping you must follow your instructions and not try to influence your choice.