CIVICUS discusses New Zealand’s new electoral law with Lara Greaves, a political scientist at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand, who specialises in democracy, Māori political participation and human rights.
New Zealand’s parliament recently passed controversial changes to the electoral rules that could disenfranchise over 100,000 people. The changes include closing voter registration 13 days before elections, reinstating a blanket prisoner-voting ban and restricting free food and entertainment near polling places. Critics argue these measures disproportionately target excluded communities, particularly Asian, Māori and Pacific Islander people, undermining democratic participation.
