Registered voters in Tonga are expected to head to the polls on May 30 and elect their new Town and District Officers to take office for the next three-years.

The one day election will elect a district officer for each of the 23 districts and 155 towns throughout Tonga.

Electoral Commissioner, Pita Vuki said the number of candidates this year was lower than the last election, in 2016.

Only 62 candidates registered for District Officers this year compared to 80 candidates in 2016.

A total of 319 candidates registered for Town Officers this year, compared to 357 candidates in 2016.

The number of female candidates has decreased this year.

Only two females are running for District Officer compared to four in 2016. While, 12 women are running for Town Officer compared to 14 in 2016.

Female candidates

The number of female candidates running for this year's town officer on the biggest island groups have decreased with only two running in Tongatapu and two in Vava’u this year.

In 2016, there were nine women candidates in Tongatapu and four in Vava’u.

However, there are more running this year for town officer in the smallers slands with four in Ha’apai, one in ‘Eua and three in Niuafo’ou.

There was only one woman from Ha'apai, none from 'Eua and the two Niuas in the town officer running in the last town election.

The two women successful in the last election were Sisifa Fili, the first  female District Officer of ‘Eua Motu’a District, and Vika Kaufusi who was elected Town Officer for Haveluloto.

As of May 1, there were 59,716 registered voters in Tonga.