The serial offender Arthur Taylor and other inmates have filed papers with the High Court calling for the election to be stopped, because prisoners are blocked from voting.
Taylor and prisoners from Auckland and Christchurch argue Maori are being disadvantaged.
The group already has a claim before the Waitangi Tribunal but said that will not get heard before the election.
The inmates said stopping Maori prisoners from voting has a direct effect on Maori representation in Parliament.
They said there is no rational basis for a blanket ban on prisoner voting, and the ban is unlawful.
Their Waitangi Tribunal claim argued that stopping prisoners from voting is a violation of tino rangatiratanga, or self-determination.
Crown lost bid to dismiss challenge
Last month the Crown lost its bid to throw out a court challenge by Taylor and four prisoners at Christchurch Women's Prison.
They wanted the High Court to declare that the 2010 legislation breaches the Bill of Rights and the Treaty of Waitangi.
The Attorney-General and the head of the Department of Corrections sought to have the application struck out, saying it was an abuse of process.
But the High Court disagreed and said the case should proceed.