# Time off to vote Official source: https://www.employment.govt.nz/leave-and-holidays/time-off-to-vote Scanned: 2026-06-07T03:31:31.402Z Use this as a current official guidance reference, not as a substitute for legal advice. ## Page Text Home Leave and holidays Time off to vote Leave and holidays Leave and holidays Public holidays Annual holidays Sick leave Bereavement leave Parental leave Family violence leave Jury service leave Employment Relations Education leave Time off to vote Defence force volunteers Other types of leave Everyone Time off to vote Employees must be given leave to vote in general elections or by-elections. What employees are entitled to An employer An individual or organisation that hires 1 or more employees and contracts them to work in exchange for wages or salary under a ‘contract of service’ (commonly called an ‘employment agreement’). must give their employees Any person, whatever their age, who is employed by an employer to do any work for hire or reward under a ‘contract of service’ (commonly called an ‘employment agreement’). time off to vote in general (parliamentary) elections on polling day if: they are (or are qualified to be) registered as a voter of the district where the election is, and they have not had a reasonable opportunity to vote before starting work or in advance of polling day. The amount of time an employee can have off to vote depends on whether they’re required for essential work or services: If an employee does not have to work after 3pm on the polling day for essential work or services, their employer must allow them to leave work by 3pm for the rest of the day without deductions Money an employer takes out of an employee’s pay. An employer can only make deductions from an employee’s pay if these deductions are required by law, or are reasonable and agreed to in writing by the employee. from their pay. If they’re required to work for essential work or services after 3pm on the polling day, their employer must allow them to leave work for a reasonable time to vote. An employer cannot make deductions from an employee’s pay for the time – up to 2 hours – that they spend off work. Deductions Ship crews If a ship happens to be in port anywhere in New Zealand at the time of a general election or by-election in that district, the master of the ship must allow crew members who are (or are qualified to be) registered voters, to go ashore to vote, if they ask to. The master cannot stop them without reasonable cause and may be liable for a fine of up to $1000 if they stop crew from going ashore to vote. Published: 11 March 2024 Last modified: 13 January 2025 Written for: Everyone Share this page: Print this page: