A total of 75 candidates had registered for the Tonga General Election on 18 November, when registration closed at 3:00pm Tuesday, 28 September 2021.
Meanwhile, over 64,000 voters have registered to elect their 17 representatives to the Tonga Legislative Assembly.
The Electoral Commissioner, Pita Vuki said that two candidates from Tongatapu were disqualified because they failed to complete their application forms on Tuesday.
Sixteen incumbent members are among the 75 candidates for the People’s seats, including 12 female and 63 male candidates.
There are seven female candidates from Tongatapu, one from ‘Eua, and two each from Ha’apai and Vava’u.
Candidates register as individuals in their respective small constituencies.
The Tongan parliament is made up of 26 members, with 17 seats for People’s Representatives and nine seats for Nobles’ Representatives.
The Nobles will also elect their nine representatives on 18 November, but they don’t have to go through the same process of electing their representatives as the People.
On election day, the 33 noble title-holders, and the four Life Peers, elect their nine Nobles’ Representatives to the Tongan Parliament.
Meanwhile, Vuki said the voter registration has increased by 1,411 compared to the final role for the last election in 2017. Of the 60,414 eligible voters over 49 percent are male and 51 percent female.
There are 15,823 voters aged between 31-40 years, the largest age group registered. Registration for voters remains open until 03 November for those who have just turned 21 years as well as individuals who have yet to register.
The final roll will be published on 04 November, two weeks before the General Election.
SOURCE: TONGA WIRES/PACNEWS
