Enrol by 25 October without putting your address on the roll

The general election is on Saturday 7 November 2026, and enrolment closes at midnight on Sunday 25 October. That’s earlier than in past elections, because you can no longer enrol on election day.

For most people, enrolling is a two-minute job at vote.nz. But the printed electoral roll lists your name, address and occupation, and it can be inspected publicly. If someone is looking for you, that matters.

You don’t have to choose between voting and staying safe. Section 115 of the Electoral Act lets the Electoral Commission put you on the unpublished roll if publishing your details would prejudice your personal safety or your family’s.

Who it’s for

People whose safety could be put at risk if their address were published. That commonly includes people who have experienced family violence, people with a protection order, and people facing threats because of their work or circumstances. Each application is considered on its merits.

What you need

The Electoral Commission asks for information that shows why you need to be on the unpublished roll. You don’t need every type, but examples include:

• a copy of a protection order
• a letter from Police or a Corrections officer explaining why publishing your details could put you or your family at risk
• a letter from a support agency, such as a family violence service

If you’re not enrolled yet, or your address has changed, you also need to complete an enrolment form.

How to apply

• Download the application form from vote.nz/unpublished, then email it to unpublished.roll@elections.govt.nz or post it to the Electoral Commission, PO Box 190, Wellington 6140.
• Or call 0800 36 76 56 and ask for forms to be posted.

Apply as early as you can, because processing can take time. Writ Day was 4 October, so anyone who enrols from now on casts a special vote anyway. Printed rolls are also made available for public inspection after elections, so getting onto the unpublished roll now still keeps your address off those.

How voting works for you

• Your details won’t appear on the printed roll at voting places.
• You’ll cast a special vote. Tell the voting place staff you’re on the unpublished roll.
• You won’t be able to download voting papers if you’re overseas.
• For local elections, you’ll need to ask your council’s electoral officer to send you voting papers, because they won’t be sent automatically.
• You stay on the unpublished roll until you ask to come off it, so tell the Commission when your details change.

Already enrolled at an address you’d rather keep private?

Apply anyway. Being on the unpublished roll keeps your details out of printed rolls produced from now on.

The rest of your public footprint

The electoral roll is one of three main public registers with home addresses. The others are your council’s rates database, where anyone can ask for their name to be withheld, and the Companies Register for directors, which changes on 18 November. Our guide to getting your address off public registers covers all three, and the personal exposure audit goes further.

Enrol by 25 October. Your vote is yours, and so is your address.