Too late for Tongans overseas to vote [1]
Saturday, February 27, 1999 - 09:00. Updated on Friday, January 8, 2016 - 13:48.
From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 14, no. 1, January 1999.
By Pesi Fonua
What difference would it make to the 1999 Tongan Parliamentary Election on March 11 if the estimated 25,000 eligible Tongan voters overseas were allowed to vote?
Most people agree it would make a huge difference, considering that only 27,948 voters turned out in Tonga in the last General Election of 1996.
The issue of making it possible for Tongan overseas to vote has been raised in the Prine Minister’s Office this year and it could happen in 2002.
The participation of the Tongan communities overseas in Tongan affairs is a force to be reckoned with. Their contribution to the Tongan economy in the form of remittances at around $60 million every year is the biggest source of foreign currency earning that Tonga has. It comes largely from Tongans who work in the cities of New Zealand, Australia, and the United States, often doing menial jobs that no one else wants. They could argue that if their economic contribution is welcomed then their political contribution in the form of their votes should be also more than welcome.
They cannot vote simply because no facility has been made by the Tongan government overseas to collect their votes.
Simi Tekiteki, the Election Supervisor, said that the Prime Minister’s office had considered the situation of the Tongan voters overseas, “but maybe it is a bit too late to include them for this election”.
Voting stations
Meanwhile efforts have been made to encourage more people who are living in Tonga to vote. “We have increased the number of voting stations in Tongatapu from 18 to 25, making it easier for people to vote, instead of having to travel a long way to vote,” said Simi. The new stations are at Hofoa, Fohala, Fatumu, Ha‘alalo, Fahefa, Navutoka and Matahau.
Simi said they had also increased the number of voting stations in Vava‘u from 14 to 18, with new voting stations at Falaleu, Makave, Holonga and Taoa.
Simi said that because of their isolation the Ha‘apai and the Niuas were well catered for with officials travelling from one island to another on the election day.
This year there is a high registration figure with over 52,000 registered and more expected to do so, and with the effort that has been made to give them better access to voting stations Simi said it would be interesting to see if more people would turn out to vote on March 11.
During the previous two parliamentary elections in 1993 and 1996 voter turnout has been decreasing. In 1993, 48,487 were registered but only 28,743 or 59 per cent voted. In 1996, 49,830 were registered but only 27,948 or 56.09 per cent turned up to vote.
The effort to get more people to vote and to get involved in Tongan politics has escalated during the past few years.
It is estimated that of about 50,000 Tongans who are residing overseas, at least 25,000 of them are over the voting age of 21 years. If you add to this another 21,000 who live in Tonga but are not interesting in voting, it means there are about 46,000 voters out there waiting to be inspired by would-be politicians.
The involvement of Tongans overseas in Tongan political and economical development has become crucial during the past few years because of the government’s concern to maintain a steady inflow of remittances into the country. Last year remittances amounted to about $60 million per annum.