Why some property owners can vote in two local elections

If you live in one council area but own a property in another, did you know you might be able to vote in two local elections? You’ll only be eligible to do this if you sign up to the non-resident ratepayer roll.

How does this work? When you enrol to vote in a general election, you vote once to decide who should be in government. To do this you will appear on a residential roll, based on your address location.

However, when you vote in a local election to decide who will represent you locally, you may qualify to vote in a second area as a non-resident ratepayer, if you own a property there too (like a holiday home, rental, or business).

To do this, you need to fill out a non-resident ratepayer enrolment form and send it to the council where your extra property is located. You won’t be enrolled automatically - you need to reapply for every local election. But if you have enrolled before, you will be sent a confirmation form between 1 March and 30 April 2025. Make sure your details are correct and return the confirmation. If you don’t receive the form, please contact the council where your property is located.

The deadline to be on the non-resident ratepayer roll is Friday 1 August 2025. If you miss this date, you’ll need to cast a special vote. To make your voice count in the local elections this year, you must vote before Saturday 1 October.

Only one non-resident vote is allowed per property, even if multiple people own the property or business. The person who registers on the non-resident ratepayer roll must live outside the area and be enrolled to vote in national elections to qualify.

The same rules also apply to trusts which have a mailing address within the Far North District’s boundaries. One vote per trust applies here also.

To stay informed about this year’s election campaign, including key dates and candidate announcements, visit our Local Elections webpage. Prepare now. Check your enrolment details at vote.nz.