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Disabled people have options if a voting place is not accessible
The Electoral Commission has assessed voting places and counts 2,449 across New Zealand that are fully or partly accessible.
People who cannot get into a voting place can vote by phone, through someone collecting their papers, or in residential care homes, CCS Disability Action says.
The Electoral Commission has assessed voting places for physical access. It counts 2,449 full or partial accessible voting places nationwide, and people can vote at any voting place in New Zealand, not only the closest one.
CCS Disability Action has heard that some people are having issues with accessibility when they arrive at a voting place. One in six people in Aotearoa New Zealand is disabled, the organisation notes.
Find an accessible voting place
The vote.nz accessibility map shows accessible voting places near you. Staff at voting places can also help in person, and people are entitled to have a support person with them.
If you cannot get to a voting place
Someone can collect your voting papers. If you cannot vote in person because of illness or disability, you can authorise someone to go to a voting place and bring your papers to you. You complete them at home, and they must return them before 7pm on Saturday 7 November.
Telephone dictation is another option. It is for people who are blind, have low vision, or have a physical disability that means they cannot mark their voting papers. You need to register first by calling 0800 028 028 or visiting vote.nz/dictation.
Electoral Commission teams can bring voting services directly to residents of residential care homes and hospitals. If you are unsure, CCS Disability Action suggests asking.
Before you go
You do not need an EasyVote card to vote. The organisation says the card speeds things up, but the Electoral Commission is clear that people without it can still vote.
You do need to be enrolled. Enrolment closed at midnight on 25 October, so anyone who enrolled before that can vote now. Staff will find you on the roll if you give your name and address, and if they cannot, you can ask for a special vote.
Early voting is open now. Voting day is Saturday 7 November, from 9am to 7pm.
To check any of these options, visit vote.nz or call 0800 36 76 56.