21 April 2026

NOTICE OF CONCERN Electoral Roll Integrity, Audit Failure, and Democratic Risk

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This was sent to the Commissioner a month about.

The reply was quite disturbing, in that there are no independent assessment of the roll and the electoral procedure . There hasnt been an audit for years. Your dead grand parents could still be on the roll. The Govt is required to have 75% of eligible votes enrolled. With over 500.000 people having left the country, it might be a good time for an edit.

To: Chief Electoral Officer

Electoral Commission New Zealand

Cc:

Office of the Ombudsman New Zealand

Controller and Auditor-General New Zealand

From:

InLandsAirWater Counsel

PO Box 265

Queenstown

Date: 21 March 2026

NOTICE OF CONCERN

Electoral Roll Integrity, Audit Failure, and Democratic Risk

1. Purpose of this Notice

This Notice is issued to formally raise serious concerns regarding the integrity, maintenance, and verification of the New Zealand electoral roll, and to seek immediate clarification as to the systems relied upon to ensure its accuracy and lawful operation.

The matters raised herein go directly to the legitimacy of electoral processes and public confidence in democratic governance.

2. Background

Recent disclosures, including responses provided under the Official Information Act 1982, indicate:

– That the electoral roll is subject to self-monitoring rather than independent audit;

– That known technical issues exist affecting voter records and vote tracking;

– That complaints regarding voting irregularities are acknowledged but not transparently resolved;

– That no clear, independently verified assurance has been provided as to the accuracy or completeness of the roll.

These admissions raise fundamental questions as to whether the roll is being maintained in accordance with statutory expectations under the Electoral Act 1993 New Zealand.

3. Issues Requiring Immediate Clarification

You are formally requested to provide full and complete disclosure of the following:

(a) Audit and Verification

– What independent audit processes (if any) are applied to the electoral roll;

– The frequency and scope of any such audits;

– Any internal or external reports assessing roll accuracy in the past five (5) years.

(b) Error Rates and Data Integrity

– Known error rates within the electoral roll;

– Procedures for identifying and correcting:

– duplicate entries

– deceased persons

– incorrect or outdated enrolments

– The number and nature of complaints received regarding:

– voting irregularities

– missing or altered enrolments

– The process by which such complaints are investigated and resolved.

(d) System Governance

– Whether any independent body verifies the roll’s integrity;

– If not, on what basis the Commission considers self-monitoring sufficient to meet statutory and democratic standards.

4. Legal and Constitutional Concern

The electoral roll forms the foundation upon which electoral outcomes are determined.

Any failure to ensure its accuracy and integrity raises:

– A failure of statutory duty;

– A risk to lawful democratic process;

– A potential breach of public trust obligations.

Where a system is relied upon to determine representation and governance, the absence of independent verification gives rise to a material risk of invalid or compromised outcomes.

5. Notice of Escalation

In the absence of satisfactory response and supporting evidence of robust audit and verification:

– This matter will be formally escalated to the Office of the Ombudsman New Zealand and the Controller and Auditor-General New Zealand for independent investigation;

– Further consideration will be given to initiating proceedings for judicial review in respect of the Commission’s discharge of its statutory obligations.

All rights are reserved in this regard.

6. Timeframe for Response

You are requested to provide a full written response within 10 working days of receipt of this Notice.

7. Closing

This Notice is issued in good faith to seek clarity and accountability on matters of significant public importance.

Given the fundamental role of the electoral roll, it is expected that the Commission will respond with full transparency and supporting documentation.

Issued by:

InLandsAirWater Counsel