The end of election day voter enrolment w/ Dr Lara Greaves: 9 May, 2024

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has announced the government is considering removing election day voter enrolment. 

A spokesperson for the Electoral Commission told 95bFM background information on what election day voter enrolment is including that:

Election day enrolment was introduced for the 2020 General Election, so there have been two elections when it’s been in place.

It means people can enrol or update their details, and then vote, on election day.

Before 2020, people needed to enrol by the day before election day.

In 2023, about 110,000 people enrolled or updated their details on election day.

Anyone who enrols or updates their details in the month before election day needs to cast a special vote.

Minister Goldsmith's reason for looking at abolishing election day enrolment included; that few countries have this ability and the electoral commission does not have enough resources to deal with these special votes. 

Opposition MPs, including Green Party Leader Chlöe Swarbrick has spoken out against removing same-day voting and enrolment, stating in a Press Release “any imposed barrier [to accessible elections] is rightfully open to serious criticism of voter suppression.”

Caeden asked political scientist at Victoria University Dr Lara Greaves (Ngāpuhi, Pākehā, Tararā) about the proposal and its resulting opposition.

They started by asking her to explain the issues with same day enrolment and voting.