by Martin Haffner Associate Editor
Voters have until 5pm today (03 December) to register to vote in the Snap Election on 14 January 2025, including the by-election for the Northern Ward Constituency of the Port Vila City Council (PVCC).
Citizens who have recently turned 18, those who are 18 but have not yet registered, and individuals seeking to transfer between polling stations and constituencies can collect forms at the office today. Voters outside Port Vila can collect forms from their provincial offices.
Those who miss registration today will not have their names added to the electoral roll. While registration for the election will close, people can still visit the Civil Status Office to get a new ID for other services.
To be eligible for registration on the electoral roll, a person must be a Ni-Vanuatu citizen and at least 18 years old on or before the qualifying date.
Although the snap election is on short notice, voters have the entire year to register, said the Electoral Office. Registration must close six weeks before the election to allow electoral officers enough time to prepare and transport the voting materials to the polling stations, said the office.
The Electoral Office said that the voter list from the national referendum will be used for the upcoming snap election. Unlike the national referendum, where voters could vote at any polling station, in this snap election, voters must vote at the polling station where they reside.
In the Port Vila Constituency, the Northern Ward Polling Station will hold two elections: one for the vacant seat following the death of Councillor Shem Tarsong this year, and another for the snap election.
Two weeks’ notice required from public servants contesting 2025 election.
Meanwhile, the Public Service Commission (PSC) has asked any public servants wishing to stand as candidates in the snap election to give two weeks’ notice before the submission period for candidacy applications opens.
Candidacy for both elections will open on Monday, 09 December, and close at 5pm on 31 December.
Proxy applications and the accreditation of party and candidate agents will also open on December 9 and close on December 31. The list of qualified candidates will be published on December 31, and the ballot paper draw will take place on January 3, 2025
Campaign will begin on 31 December and end at midnight on 11 January 2025, just before polling day on 14 January.
The Electoral Office has addressed public questions about publishing election timelines despite a pending court case. It clarified that preparations are being made in accordance with the Electoral Act, which mandates a fresh election within 60 days whenever Parliament is dissolved.
The office mentioned that one of the challenges it is facing is funding, due to the tight timeline of the snap election. It needs additional funding to support its volunteers and those coordinating the elections.
In another development, a new political party must have a total of 500 new voters to qualify to contest an election in Vanuatu, according to the Political Parties Registration Act.
The recent Political Parties Registration, launched by the caretaker Minister responsible for elections, Andrew Napuat, last Friday, clearly states that any new political party must provide at least the names of voters, addresses, signatures, and ID cards.
This ensures that new political parties are backed by a substantial number of eligible voters and meet the necessary requirements to participate in the election process.
The introduction of these conditions aims to promote transparency and accountability in Vanuatu’s political arena.
For existing political parties, the threshold is 1,000 voters from the total votes cast in the most recent National Election.
All applications must be fully completed and signed, include the logo of the proposed political party, a policy platform, and a copy of the constitution.
The constitution must outline the method of electing executive members and their respective functions and powers. The executive must comprise at least six members, with three mandatory positions: president, treasurer, and secretary.
Additionally, at least one member of the executive must be a woman.
The Political Parties Registration Act also states that applications must include the method of selecting candidates for election to parliament, municipal councils, or provincial governments, as well as the procedure for disciplining members of the political party, including termination of membership.
Applications must also outline the grounds on which an independent member of parliament is deemed to have ceased supporting or affiliating with that political party.
Another requirement is a declaration that no founding member has a criminal record. Applicants must provide information about financial sources and expenditures, and a fee of VT150,000 must be paid upfront.
During the launch last week, many prominent political figures collected forms to register their political parties.
The Political Party Registration Act No. 15 of 2023 makes it mandatory for all organisations or groups to register with the Vanuatu Electoral Office before they operate or function as a political party. No group can field a candidate in any election unless it is registered as a political party.
The requirement to register applies to all groups, including those already registered under the Charitable Association Act and newly formed political parties.
The closing date for registration is today.
