Silent electors may register as a general postal voter so that their ballot papers are automatically mailed to them when an election or referendum is called.
[2] The application must be accompanied by evidence, such as a copy of a protection order that is in force under the Domestic Violence Act 1995, a copy of a restraining order that is in force under the Harassment Act 1997, a statutory declaration from a member of the New Zealand Police, or a letter from either a barrister or solicitor, the employer, a justice of the peace, or the like, supporting the application on the grounds that the applicant's personal safety, or that of their family, could be prejudiced by the publication of their name and details.
[4] The applicant must state a reason why they or someone else in the same household would be at risk should their name and address be publicly available in the electoral register.
Application forms can be returned to the local electoral registration officer by post, by fax or by e-mail as a scanned attachment.
This includes creating a false address, and applies to different government departments depending on the state.