Increasing the number of voters in Tonga's elections is one of the main aims of a new NZD$1.5m three-year program signed under a Memorandum of Understanding between the New Zealand and Tonga Electoral Commissions, at the Electoral Office at Fasi today, 20 May.

Lord Dalgety, the Chair of Tonga’s Electoral Commission, and Alicia Wright, Commissioner and Chief Electoral Officer of the New Zealand Electoral Commission, signed the MOU, witnessed by New Zealand High Commissioner to Tonga HE Tiffany Babington.

The program funded by the New Zealand Government will also address a range of electoral issues faced in Tonga, including improved access for voters, transparency of campaign financing, improved quality of access to media for candidates, and overseas voting.

Lord Dalgety said “the key areas so far as we are concerned is electoral education, which is telling people what the election is all about, how important they are for democracy and most important of all to please turn out and vote.”

He added that while they are looking at ways to increase voters at the polls, he did not want to go down the path with what Australia does and fine registered voters if they don't turn out to vote.

"I don’t like that idea. I think it’s a privilege to vote not a duty. And that means we now have to look at how do we in fact maximize our turn out."

HE Tiffany Babington said the New Zealand Government is very pleased to support this project.

“I think it’s a real sign of the maturity of the relationship between Tonga and New Zealand as we look to the Pacific reset and helping with good governance and democratic processes and strong public services in the Pacific region, and especially our Polynesian neighbours including Tonga.”

“We obviously have the local elections coming up shortly, but the focus will be really on looking to the general elections in 2021,” she said.

The New Zealand Electoral Commission staff are already in Tonga to start helping with technical issues.

At the end of the project, a report with recommendations on maximizing participation in elections will be submitted to government and parliament for a decision.

The number of registered voters in Tonga has grown from around 42,000 in November 2010 to 59,716 as at May 1.

The next local election is the District and Town Officers Election 2019, which will be held next week on 30 May.