TL;DR: New Zealand’s 2026 general election is in November, and same-day enrolment has been scrapped, so the Electoral Commission is sending reminders. Genuine ones in 2026: texts from 5101, emails from no-reply@easy.vote.nz, sent 31 August–20 September, and the email doesn’t include links. The Commission never asks for a password, PIN, login, money or bank details, and you don’t need any of those to enrol. Unsure? Call 0800 36 76 56.
What’s genuine
From the Electoral Commission:
| Channel | Genuine sender |
|---|---|
| Text | 5101 |
| no-reply@easy.vote.nz | |
| Links in the email | None |
| When | 31 August–20 September 2026 |
You’ll only get one if you gave an email or mobile number when enrolling or updating.
What they never ask for
- A password, PIN or login
- Money
- Bank account details
You don’t need any of those to enrol to vote. So any "pay $1 to confirm your enrolment" message is a scam, full stop.
Why scammers love elections
- There’s a real deadline in the news.
- Same-day enrolment is gone, so people are anxious to get it right. Lawmakers ended election-day enrolment in a December law change, and the Commission says voters "must be enrolled in advance" (report).
- Official-looking messages arrive anyway, so fakes blend in.
Real deadline, real anxiety, fake link. It’s the scammer’s holy trinity.
How to check your enrolment safely
- Type vote.nz yourself.
- Or call 0800 36 76 56.
Privacy tip
If having your address on the public roll could put you at risk, apply for the unpublished roll.
Got a fake?
- Forward texts to 7726 (how).
- Clicked and paid? Call your bank, then Police (105).
A free exposure check shows if your number or email is in breach data.
Frequently Asked Questions
What number do real Electoral Commission texts come from?
In 2026, genuine texts come from 5101.
What email address does the Electoral Commission use?
no-reply@easy.vote.nz, and the reminder email doesn’t include links.
Does the Electoral Commission ask for money or bank details?
No. It never asks for a password, PIN, login, money or bank details.
Can I enrol on election day in NZ in 2026?
No. Same-day enrolment has ended; you must be enrolled in advance.
Sources
- Electoral Commission: Emails and texts, 31 Aug–20 Sep 2026
- AP via Jonesboro Sun: New Zealanders urged to enrol as new law ends late enrolment