Who can cast a special vote
Sometimes you might need to cast a special vote. You will need to do this if:
- You didn’t receive your voting forms in your letterbox after 22 September
- You lost or damaged your voting forms
- You enrolled after 1 August 2025
- You are on the unpublished (confidential) electoral roll
- Your enrolled address is out of date, and you have been living at a new address for a month or more
Special voting locations
You can cast a special vote at the election hub at Te Awe Library, 29 Brandon Street, Wellington from 9 September – 12 noon, 11 October 2025. The voting hub will be open from 9.30am – 5.30pm.
Special voting hubs will also be open at the following locations in the final week of voting. These hubs will be open from 10am – 5.30pm from Monday 6 October, and will close at 12 noon on 11 October 2025.
- Johnsonville Library | Waitohi
- Karori Library | Te Māhanga
- Newtown Library | Ngā Puna Waiora
- Ruth Gotlieb (Kilbirnie) Library | Te Awa-a-Taia
How to request a special vote
We can send your special vote papers to you. To request your papers in the post:
Email election@wcc.govt.nz for help.
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.
Special voting process
Casting a special vote is easy. It takes less than 5 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, 11 October 2025.
The return address for special votes is:
The Electoral Officer
Wellington City Council
Private Bag 770153
Orchard Road
Christchurch 8154
Voting from overseas
If you’re living overseas you can update your enrolment details prior to 1 August.
How to enrol
If you will be temporarily overseas during the voting period we can assist with getting your vote sent to you. Email election@wcc.govt.nz for help.