34907 (2026). Hon Dr Duncan Webb to the Minister of Justice

34907 (2026). Hon Dr Duncan Webb to the Minister of Justice: If a person does not respond to a email message from the Electoral Commission sent under s 89D of the Electoral Act 1993 does the Commission assume that the elector cannot be contacted and place them on the dormant roll under s 89G of the Act?

Hon Paul Goldsmith: I am advised that the Electoral Commission only makes a person dormant under section 89G of the Act if correspondence sent to the elector under section 89D cannot be delivered to the elector’s address on the roll. Legally, the Commission cannot make an elector dormant under section 89G solely based on them failing to respond to an email or text messages as these methods of communication are not delivered to the elector’s address on the roll. By law, the Commission must write to all registered electors before a general election and the triennial local body elections to check electors’ details are up to date, section 89D of the Electoral Act 1993 (the Act). This correspondence has been sent by post for many years. The Act was updated in December 2025 to allow the Commission the discretion to determine the method in which the enrolment update packs sent to electors under section 89D, and other enrolment correspondence, are sent to electors under Part 4 of the Act. However, for the 2026 General Election the Commission has decided enrolment update packs will still be sent by post. The enrolment update campaign commences on 10 August with the enrolment update letters being delivered from 17 August. This year, in addition to the enrolment update packs sent by post, the Commission will also be sending electors who have provided us with their email and/or mobile contact details email and text reminders as part of the enrolment update campaign. These will be additional prompts for electors to check to make sure their enrolment details are up to date for the election. During an enrolment update campaign, the Commission receives large numbers of returned mail from NZ Post marked “Gone no address” (GNA). A GNA notifies the Commission that correspondence could not be delivered to an elector at their address on the roll. This is normally because an elector has moved address and not updated their enrolment record. Where the Commission receives a GNA, electors remain on the roll while the Commission tries to contact them through email, text or an alternate address if they have this information. After four weeks, if the Commission has not heard from the elector, e.g. the elector has not updated their details by competing an enrolment form or via the online enrolment system, they will be put on the dormant roll. This is important for the accuracy and integrity of the electoral roll and ensures that voters are eligible to vote in the correct electorate for parliamentary elections and the correct ward or area for local elections, where they live. Please note electors cannot update their enrolment details by replying to an email or text prompt. The Commission directs people to vote.nz to use the online enrolment system, or electors can download or request a physical enrolment form is sent to them for completion.