Town halls across New Caledonia are from today publishing the rolls for the November referendum on independence from France.
Kanak and French flags on Ouvea island. Photo: AFP
Voting will be restricted to long-term residents who number about 173,000 while the general roll lists more than 210,000 voters.
Those registered are being urged to check that they are on the list.
At a recent meeting of pro- and anti-independence politicians, it was agreed that some registrations will still be possible up to the referendum date.
According to Les Nouvelles Caledoniennes, this applies to possibly a further 3,000 people who the authorities had said could not be found.
The rolls were vetted by commissions appointed by the French state after a prolonged period of concern over their make-up.
The Labour Party, which won't take part in the referendum, maintains that the lists are flawed.