Advance voting starts as enrolments close for New Zealand's 2026 general election

Advance voting for New Zealand's 2026 general election commenced today, coinciding with the closure of voter enrolments. The Electoral Commission reported a 92.4% enrolment rate, trailing the 94.7% achieved in the 2023 election. Labour leader Chris Hipkins accused the government of deliberately disenfranchising younger voters, while Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick said the timing disadvantaged youth, renters, Māori, Pasifika and migrants.

In contrast, National leader Christopher Luxon and ACT leader David Seymour defended the system as straightforward and placed blame on individuals who fail to enrol. The launch also featured National's 100-day plan, with ACT signalling willingness to cooperate on certain issues, and Opposition leader Qiulae Wong unveiling a pledge to create a Future Generations Commissioner to oversee long-term policy impacts.