Controversial changes to voting rules in the Northern Territory have passed Parliament, less than six months before Territorians head to the polls.

The changes, which the Opposition Labor Party says are a ploy by the ruling Country Liberals Party (CLP) to remain in power, have seen the introduction of optional preferential voting.

Optional preferential voting means voters can number as few as a single box when voting, instead of filling out all preferences.

Chief Minister Adam Giles told Parliament this would help combat the high rate of informal votes in remote areas.

"I think the opportunity for empowerment around democratic voting is something that should be supported," Mr Giles told Parliament.

"I'm surprised that the Labor Party don't support remote, rural and Indigenous democratic voting."

Attorney-General John Elferink told Parliament the changes would make the system more democratic.

"If you do not want to cast a second vote, you have the choice to do so," Mr Elferink said.

"Surely that is a more democratic principle saying to people that they have an ability to choose whether or not they cast a second vote."

Labor, independents concerned at changes

The other major change is a 100-metre exclusion zone around voting booths to be established for voting paraphernalia, up from the existing 10 metres.

That was downgraded from a 500-metre exclusion zone that the NTEC had previously warned would be "difficult to enforce" and inhibit the ability of independent candidates to speak with voters.

There was also concern that such a large exclusion zone would push election paraphernalia out of remote communities.

Labor and many independents voiced concern about the new voting system, raising concerns about ulterior motives and adding confusion between the Territory and federal voting systems.

"A desperate Chief Minister wants to change the rules," Labor leader Michael Gunner told Parliament before the vote.

"The CLP will do anything to remain in power and that includes radically changing how we vote."

Independent Member for Nelson Gerry Wood wanted the changes to be referred to an independent committee, but that motion was voted down.

"This should be coming from the Parliament," Mr Wood told the ABC.

"At the moment it's coming from the Government and the Government has a reason for doing what it's doing and most of it's not about good governance," Mr Wood said.

"Most of it ... is more about what [the CLP] can see is good for them."

Optional preferential system 'tended to favour Coalition in recent years'

Optional preferential voting is used in New South Wales and Queensland.

ABC election analyst Antony Green said the system had tended to favour the Coalition in recent years as it stems the flow of preferences from the Greens to Labor.

But he added it was difficult to predict how it would influence the Northern Territory vote.

"All electoral systems and electoral laws should be kept under review," he said.

"But to do this as a government within 12 months of an election always raises the question is this being done for good electoral reform reasons or is it being done for self interest."