Voting Law Changes Are Needed to ensure timely counting of votes

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has said "the final vote count used to take two weeks, last election it took three" and that without change it "could well take even longer in future elections," framing the changes as "overhauling outdated and unsustainable electoral laws."

However, the Human Rights Commission, the Electoral Commission and the Waitangi Tribunal have all said the changes will not actually speed up vote counts. The Coalition used the time needed for a proper count to justify extending Caretaker Government conventions.

The actual changes; ending same-day enrolment, removing prisoner voting rights, removing the ability to give away food and drink to people waiting to vote, encouraging a choice between the Māori and General rolls, and scheduling the election during tertiary study periods, have instead been identified by rights groups as limiting people's ability to take part in the democratic process, with a likely impact on turnout and result.