By Matangi Tonga online
Voters from Vava'u queue to enter the outer islands polling place, in the capital Nuku'alofa today, 18 November 2021. Tonga's General Election for 17 People's Representative seats in the Tonga Legislative Assembly. Photo: Mary Lyn Fonua
Polling stations in Tonga's general election are now closed, and the Election Commission says preliminary running results will be announced later tonight.
There are 72 candidates for 17 People's Representatives seats in the 26-member Tonga Legislative Assembly.
Tonga's veteran Election Supervisor, Pita Vuki, told Matangi Tonga online there were hopes more voters than ever would turnout today and reverse a trend of growing voter disaffection that saw the last turnout drop to about half of registered electors.
Pita Vuki Photo: RNZ/Koro Vaka'uta
This will be the fourth election following Tonga's 2010 democratic reform, which gave the People greater representation in parliament and changed the electoral landscape of the kingdom - a Constitutional Monarchy under King Tupou VI and home to 106,000 people.
But Pita said that polling over the last three elections has dropped.
Following a high 91% percent turnout in 2010, during the excitement of an electoral reform that heralded a "more democratic form of government", there was a disappointing 67% turnout in 2017.
Early voters arrive at the Kolomotu'a FWC Hall, this morning. Nuku'alofa, 18 November 2021. Photo: Linny Folau/Matangi Tonga
Then only 53% of registered electors voted in the last by-election in 2019, for the Tongatapu no. 1 seat that had been held by a popular former Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva, who died in office that year.
While the electoral roll in Tonga has grown rapidly from around 42,000 in November 2010 to a record 62,253 in 2021, the numbers show that voters have lost their enthusiasm, particularly younger people.
Electoral campaigns can't be discussed on Election Day. Campaigning officially stopped 24 hours before the polls opened.
Pita said there were 1800 new elector registrations over the last two months - mainly first time voters. It's an encouraging sign of new interest, after two years of programmes and technical support to the Electoral Commission, funded mainly by Australia and New Zealand donor partners, to encourage greater participation in Tonga's evolving democracy.
The Electoral Commission is also trying to make voting easier.
"We've increased our ballot boxes to over 200 and every village has one," he told Matangi Tonga on Tuesday. They've doubled the number of polling places in the largest 10 constituencies on the main island Tongatapu, where 70% of voters reside.
Early voters in Tonga's General Election wait in socially distanced queues at the FWC church hall at Ngele'ia. Nuku'alofa, 18 November 2021 Photo: Linny Folau/Matangi Tonga
Noble's Representatives
In the House of Parliament there are 17 seats for the People and nine seats for the Nobles Representatives.
The 33 hereditary noble title-holders, now called Lords, are choosing their own representatives, in a separate election this morning. Two titles are vacant (Ma'atu and 'Ahome'e) and some nobles hold more than one title. Seven nobles are currently overseas, including some incumbents. There are also five life peers in Tonga who may vote or enter parliament.
Pita Vuki said that nobles do not have to register in the same way as the candidates for the People's Representative seats. The Electoral Commission sends them a letter asking them to indicate their interest in standing, and the nobles reply.
Election observer, the British High Commissioner to Tonga, HE Lucy Joyce, visits a Tongatapu 3 polling station at Joseph's Catholic Church Hall, today. Nuku'alofa, 18 November 2021. Photo: Linny Folau/Matangi Tonga
Forming a government
Before a new government can take over in December or January, the new House must elect a Prime Minister from the elected members.
In turn, the Prime Minister can appoint ministers to form a 12-member Cabinet, so there will always be a minority government. Up to four non-elected ministers may be chosen from outside the House. Two were appointed in the current government.
Party politics was not written into the 2010 electoral reform. All candidates must register as independents to represent their constituencies.
Several of the MPs want to be the next Prime Minister, including the Nobles, one of whom must be appointed as Speaker. The Speaker is nominated by the new members and chosen by secret ballot in the House
Within seven-days after the declaration of the election results, the King will appoint an Interim Speaker. The current Speaker will remain as Speaker until the King appoints the Interim Speaker.
The Interim Speaker is the person who will oversee the process of the election of the Prime Minister and the new Speaker, who are elected in a secret ballot by the new Members of Parliament.