Voters in the Ruaau constituency of Rarotonga go to the polls today to elect a new Member of Parliament.
Three candidates are contesting the seat which became vacant following the sudden death of Democratic Party MP Maria Heather.
The husband of the MP, Geoffrey Heather, is standing in the by-election for the Democratic Party.
The two other candidates are Cook Islands Party representative, Vaine Wichman, and Teariki Heather the leader of the newly formed Cook Islands National Party.
All three candidates have named political reform and honesty and integrity amonghst politicians as some of the most pressing issues facing the country today.
Results of the by-election are expected late this afternoon.