Community efforts to get people ready for Election 2026 are gathering momentum, with more than 31,000 additional people enrolling across Aotearoa during September and overseas enrolments reportedly running 60 percent higher than at the same stage of the 2023 election cycle.
ActionStation Director Kassie Hartendorp says trusted local networks, whānau and community organisations are playing an important role in encouraging people to enrol and participate, particularly among communities that have traditionally faced barriers to electoral participation.
The push has taken on added urgency because the rules have changed for this election. The Electoral Commission confirms voters must be enrolled or have updated their details by midnight on 25 October, with advance voting beginning the following day. Unlike the previous two general elections, people will not be able to enrol at a voting place and cast a vote at the same time.
The Electoral Commission reported in late September that 90.6 percent of eligible voters were enrolled, around one percentage point higher than at the comparable stage before the 2023 election. Enrolment among 18-to-24-year-olds had climbed to 61 percent, up from 53.9 percent at the end of July.
Hartendorp says the remaining challenge is reaching people who may be disproportionately affected by the earlier enrolment deadline, including Māori, Pasifika, rangatahi, renters and people in insecure or frequently changing housing.
Community-led enrolment has also been recognised by the Electoral Commission, which established a fund of up to $690,000 this year to support local groups helping increase enrolment, particularly in communities where the Commission has less direct presence.
With overseas voting beginning on 21 October, enrolment closing on 25 October, advance voting opening on 26 October and election day set for 7 November, the message for whānau who have not yet checked their details is that the window to get election-ready is rapidly narrowing.
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