The Electoral Act 1993 requires that employers must give employees time off to vote in the general election on polling day, if they are eligible to vote and where they have not had a reasonable opportunity to vote before starting work. The amount of time an employee is allowed off to vote depends on whether the employee is required for essential work or services.
If an employee is not required to work after 3pm on the polling day for essential work or service, their employer must allow them to leave work by 3pm, for the remainder of the day. The employer cannot deduct wages or salary from an employee for this time off work.
If an employee is required to work after 3pm on the polling day for essential work or services, their employer must allow them to leave work for a reasonable time to vote. The employer cannot deduct wages or salary from an employee for time, not exceeding 2 hours, which the employee spent off work.
It is an offence if an employer fails to allow an employee time off work in the manner described above, or if they unlawfully deduct wages from an employee who takes time off to vote.
Voters who are overseas can vote from Wednesday, 27 September 2023 until 7pm on Saturday, 14 October 2023 (‘election day’). Further information on how to vote from overseas can be found here:
https://vote.nz/overseas/vote-from-overseas/vote-from-overseas/
Voting in New Zealand starts on Monday, 2 October 2023 and will close at 7pm on election day. You can find your nearest voting place here:
https://vote.nz/2023-general-election/how-to-vote/find-a-voting-place/