NZ Nurses Organisation claim Auckland hospital patients unable to vote

The NZ Nurses Organisation is surveying its members at two Auckland hospitals to determine the extent to which patients missed out on voting in the general election.

Delegate Sophie Tomes said the Electoral Commission had mobile voting teams at North Shore and Middlemore Hospitals only on the day before the election.

She claimed at least 12 North Shore patients were unable to vote, because they were bed-ridden.

"Our patients have been denied democracy," Tomes said. "We have confirmed that at least 12 patients at North Shore were unable to vote, including five from the Elective Surgery Centre, four from Ward 4 and three from Ward 15.

"These patients were bedridden and unable to get to the mobile voting team. They have been denied their democratic right.

"NZNO members reported voting for them personally was more challenging than previous elections, with long queues on the Friday also preventing busy nurses from having their say."

Tomes said union delegates had previously urged the Electoral Commission to make the mobile voting teams available on election day, but the patients were denied their democratic right.

"We work with hospitals directly, and the type of service we provide will depend on what works for them and the space available," said the Electoral Commission. "For example, we had a mobile team at Middlemore Hospital all day Friday, 6 November, to issue takeaway votes to patients in the wards.

"Patients were able to request a takeaway vote from the ward staff, who would record their details and pass it on to our team to prepare a takeaway vote. Our team returned on election day, as well, to pick up completed votes.

"Our electorate manager worked closely with Middlemore Hospital to arrange voting services for the 2026 general election - these are the same as the services provided in 2023. We are unable to comment on a specific individual patient and their circumstances."