How to cast a special vote

Don’t have your voting papers? You need to cast a special vote for yourself! It’s simple.

Come and see us in person at Waiata House, Monday – Friday, from 9am – 4pm. No appointment, no ID, and no proof of address needed — just walk in and we’ll guide you through the process in about 15 minutes. If you aren't enrolled, you can enrol at the same time.

Who can cast a special vote

Sometimes you might need to cast a special vote if:

You didn’t receive your voting forms in the mail
You lost or damaged your voting forms
You enrolled after the cut off
You are on the unpublished (confidential) electoral roll
Your enrolled address is out of date, and you have been living at a new address for a month or more.

If you've got any questions about special votes, including if you are out of the district during voting, please get in touch with governance@mstn.govt.nz.

Late Night Voting

We're offering special voting sessions for anyone who can't make it during business hours.

Tuesday 19 May & Thursday 21 May, 4pm - 7pm Waiata House, 27 Lincoln Road, Masterton

Special voting event

Special voting process

Casting a special vote is easy. It takes less than 15 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

You can cast a special vote right up until 12 noon, Friday 22 May but we'd encourage you to come in earlier.

Special voting locations

You can cast a special vote at Waiata House, 27 Lincoln Road, Masterton. The voting hub will be open from 9am – 4pm. You don’t need to make an appointment or bring ID.

Need help?

Help is available if you can’t leave home to vote. Contact our electoral team for assistance. You can also use the telephone dictation service to cast your vote, by calling 0800 666 040.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a special vote, is it different from a normal vote?

A special vote is just a different way to vote.

You might need to cast a special vote if:

- Your voting pack doesn’t arrive in the mail.
- You enrolled or updated your address after the cut off.
- You're on the unpublished (confidential) electoral roll.
- You lose or damage your voting pack.

Normal votes are when you use the mailed voting pack you get, fill it out, and return it by post or using a bin by the deadlines. For a special vote, you will come to the Council office to get your voting papers instead of getting them in the mail.

Where do I go to cast a special vote in person?

Waiata House, 27 Lincoln Road Masterton. If you think about the Lincoln Road roundabout, you have McDonald’s, Burger King, and ANZ on three corners and Waiata House is on the other corner. You don’t need to make an appointment, just come and see us between 9am and 4pm, let reception know why you’re there and the whole process will take around 15 minutes.

Can I enrol and vote at the same time?

Yes, you can do that online at www.vote.nz or we have forms available at MDC offices and the library.

Can I get special vote papers sent to me, and how do I request them?

Contact harrietk@mstn.govt.nz as soon as possible to request your papers.

Do I need some kind of ID or proof of address to do a special vote?

No, but you do need to sign a declaration and have that witnessed to confirm that the information you have provided is correct.

If I’m on the unpublished (confidential) roll, how do I vote?

If your name is on the unpublished roll, your voting papers will not be automatically sent in the mail. You will have been sent a letter that lets you know how to make a special vote.

How is a special vote counted, and is there anything different about how it’s processed?

Special votes are processed separately.
There is a declaration that must be completed.
They will only be counted once the validity of that declaration is verified, ensuring the voter is on the roll, has not voted already, etc.
Because of this extra step, results from special votes sometimes take a bit longer to process which is why we ask you to come in before that final voting day.

Is there help available for casting special votes (for example, for people with disabilities or people who can’t leave home)?

Yes, you can contact the electoral team and someone can come to you. Call us on 06 370 6300 or email harrietk@mstn.govt.nz. You can also use the telephone dictation service by calling 0800 666 040 between 9am and 4:30pm.

How long does it take to process a special vote, or when will the result of special votes be included?

Special votes need to arrive by the voting close (12 noon, 22 May 2026), and then they will be verified and counted. So, the final results may be delayed compared to ordinary votes, depending on how many special votes there are and how quickly the verification happens. The official election results, which will include special votes, are expected to be publicly notified on Tuesday 26 May.