A recount of results in the Mitiaro electorate from the Cook Islands general election in July has given the Democratic Party candidate the seat by a single vote.
A recount of results in the Mitiaro electorate from the Cook Islands general election in July has given the Democratic Party candidate the seat by a single vote.
Cook Islands Democratic Party Logo Photo: Cook Islands Democratic Party
The results were recounted last week after the Chief Justice declared one vote was invalid and that it be struck off.
In the original poll in Mitiaro both candidates, the Cook Islands Party's Tuakeu Tangatapoto and the Democratic incumbent, Tangata Vavia, of the Democratic Party, had tied with 50 votes each.
A by-election was held on November 11th but those results have not been counted pending the court hearing a petition and counter petition.
However, no certificate of the latest result is to be issued until the court has finished hearing the outstanding petitions, which is scheduled to happen on December 15th.
In a statement the court says there is still the potential for another recount following these next hearings.
Tangata Vavia says the latest development has given him some energy but with petitions still pending the election results are still not final.
"It's good for the Democratic Party and for my supporters in Mitiaro. However there's still some more petitions to be dealt with."