Special voting

Who can cast a special vote

Most people will receive their voting papers in the post. However, you’ll need to cast a special vote if:

  • you didn’t receive your voting forms in your letterbox by 22 September 2025
  • you lost or damaged your voting forms
  • you enrolled or updated your address after 1 August 2025. You can enrol to vote or update your enrolment details at vote.nz. Enrolling is easy to do – it takes 30 seconds on the Electoral Commission website
  • You're 17 but will be turning 18 on 11 October or sooner - you can pre-enrol now and vote as soon as you turn 18
  • you are on the unpublished (confidential) electoral roll
  • your enrolled address is out of date, and you have been living at a new address for a month or more. Update your details online now

Special voting booth locations

After enrolling or updating (see above), you can cast a special vote at the locations listed below  or request a special vote be sent to you by emailing your details, (full name and address) to elections2025@huttcity.govt.nz

If making your request by email please ensure you make your request early in the voting period, so you have enough time to return your vote to the Electoral Officer by noon, 11 October 2025.

Main special voting location

Main Administration Building, 30 Laings Road Lower Hutt:

  • 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday from 9 September to 10 October 2025
  • 9am -12 noon Saturday 11 October 2025

Wellington City special voting location

You can also cast a special vote for the Hutt City Council election at Wellington's election hub at Te Awe Library, 29 Brandon Street, Wellington, during the voting period 9 September – 12 noon, 11 October 2025.

Te Awe Library Election hub opening hours:

  • 9.30am–5.30pm, Monday–Friday
  • 10am–4pm, Saturday 4 October 2025
  • 9.30am–12 noon, Saturday 11 October 2025.

Other Locations (during final two weeks of voting)

Wainuiomata Neighbourhood Hub, Queen Street, Wainuiomata
Walter Nash Neighbourhood Hub Tocker Street, Taita
Koraunui Stokes Valley Neighbourhood Hub, Stokes Valley Road, Stokes Valley

  • 9am to 5 pm Monday to Friday from 29 September to 10 October 202
  • 9am - 12 noon on Saturday 11 October 2025 (Koraunui  open from 10am)

Special voting process

Casting a special vote is easy and you can enrol at the same time if you haven't already. It takes less than five minutes to issue a special voting pack, and you can vote on site or take it away to vote later. A special vote pack includes:

  • A special voting form
  • A special voting declaration
  • Two envelopes

The packs are available during the voting period from 9 September to noon on 11 October 2025.

You can enrol to vote if you:

  • are 18 years or older (you can pre-enrol if you're 17 and then you'll automatically be on the roll when you turn 18)
  • are a New Zealand Citizen or permanent resident
  • have lived in New Zealand continuously for 12 months or more at some time in your life.