New Zealand PM is warned overhaul of electoral laws risks 'disenfranchising' minority voters

New Zealand's prime minister has defended his government's plans to overhaul its electoral laws despite warnings from his own attorney general that the changes could breach human rights law and disenfranchise more than 100,000 voters.

- Eva Corlett

Christopher Luxon's rightwing government last week announced its plan to shake up electoral laws it said were "outdated and unsustainable", including closing voter enrolment 13 days before election day, reinstating a ban on prisoner voting and prohibiting anyone from providing free food, drink or entertainment within 100 metres of a voting station.

Since 1993, voters have been allowed to enrol to vote during the two-week advance voting period and, more recently, on election day, casting what is called a "special vote".

Luxon told RNZ yesterday that the late enrolments had led to weeks-long delays in counting votes in previous elections.