Government to Wipe Out Population of Invercargill in 2026 Election
The Government’s Electoral Amendment Bill will silence a population of voters the size of Invercargill in next year’s general election, the Justice Select Committee heard on Monday.
In a briefing from the Electoral Commission, the committee was told that cutting voter enrolment 13 days before election day will eliminate 58,000 votes in the 2026 election, surging to more than 100,000 over the next three election cycles.
Te Pāti Māori a will repeal the Electoral Amendment Bill, replacing it with reforms that expand participation, honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and uphold the right to vote for all citizens. This includes lowering the voting to 16 and reinstating the right of all prisoners to vote.
“This Government claims to be protecting democracy, but this bill is an outright attack on it. They are knowingly wiping out a whole city of voters from participating in the 2026 election. These are Trump-like tactics, rigging the election before it even starts” said Tākuta Ferris.
“The Electoral Act 1993 legally requires citizens be enrolled to vote. Yet here they are cutting off enrolment nearly two weeks before election day, effectively criminalising compliance” he said.
“They will treat the 152,000 people who enrolled during that same period at the last election as if they were illegal voters. It’s an abuse of power that shows just how reckless and dangerous this Bill really is,” he said.
The Bill would also reinstate a total ban on prisoner voting, directly contradicting Supreme Court rulings, the Attorney-General’s own advice, and international human rights.
“Māori are 10.7 times more likely to serve minor sentences than non-Māori, exaggerating a double punishment just because of your whakapapa.
“This bill isn’t about making elections faster; it is about whose voices are heard. It is undeniable that this is about manipulating the election result, locking out Māori, Pasifika and rangatahi voices. It’s voter suppression plain and simple” Ferris said.
