New National Identification card for voters [1]
Monday, October 25, 2010 - 21:56. Updated on Saturday, May 3, 2014 - 19:56.
With only one month away from the General Election on November 25, Tonga's first National Identification Cards for voters are currently being distributed to voters in Tongatapu, with the outer islands to follow in the next few weeks.
Supervisor of Elections Pita Vuki said the card is compulsory in that voters must present it when casting their vote at the polling stations on November 25.
He said the Electoral Commission started distributing the cards to registered voters on October 25 in all 10 constituencies in Tongatapu. Those who did not pick up their cards could do so at the Electoral Commission office in central Nuku'alofa.
Once all the cards are distributed for voters in Tongatapu they would then move to the remaining seven constituencies in the outer islands of Vava'u, Ha'apai, 'Eua and the Niuas in the next few weeks. Registered voters in the outer islands may pick up their cards at their respective Government offices.
Meanwhile, before midday today, quite a number of voters gathered at the commission office in the capital to pick up their cards.
Identity card
The National Identification Cards were produced in Canada by Canada Bank Note, and printed in Tonga to include personalisation of the card bearer's details. The project is funded by the Government of Tonga.
Pita said this is the company that produces Tongan passports and the card contains security features technology for identification documents.
He said it is planned that the card would become a national identity card for all Tongans after the election, but for the time being its main function would be that for the election.
The modern card contains voter's picture, personal identification number, nationality, date of birth and residency. It is valid for five years.