Polls have opened in Tonga on Thursday for voters to elect their 17 representatives in the Legislative Assembly, while the kingdom’s nobles will also elect nine of their own representatives today.
More than 200 polling stations are operating across the country’s islands, with a team of about 600 officials co-ordinating voting. About half of the polling stations are on Tongatapu.
There are 71 candidates vying for a seat in parliament, including eight women.
The electoral roll has more than 64,000 voters, however Supervisor of Elections Peter Vuki does not expect that many ballots to be cast.
Voter participation has declined in the past 15 years, which Vuki said was due to a range of reasons, including large numbers of registered voters being overseas on polling day.
He said with a polling station in every village, anyone who is registered to vote should be turning up today.
“It should be easy for them to get to either the community hall or church hall that we’re using for these elections. So hopefully they will turn up and cast [a ballot],” Vuki said.
“It is very important to vote – it’s very important for all of us.”
Incumbent Prime Minister Dr ‘Aisake Eke, who took on the role nine months ago, and his predecessor Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni, who resigned ahead of a no-confidence motion, are contesting the election. Both men are being touted as key players for the prime ministership. Two nobles’ representatives – Lord Fakafanua and Lord Tu’ivakano – have also expressed interest in being prime minister.
Following the election, the newly convened Legislative Assembly is responsible for nominating one of its elected members to be appointed by the King as the Prime Minister. Following that, the prime minister picks his Cabinet, up to four of whom may be from outside parliament.
Polling stations for the general public will close at 4pm local time.
The nobles’ election process runs from 10am to 12pm. Results are announced at each polling station once voting finishes.
The overall count is then tallied at the Electoral Commission’s office in Nuku’alofa.
Vuki said he expected the results to be announced tonight.
