The results of the 2008 General Election were decided by half of the people who are registered to vote when 32,000 Tongans turned out to vote on Thursday, April 24,

This is less than half of the 68,000 registered voters, and in Tongatapu down on the numbers who turned out in 2005.

Tonga's Electoral Officer Pita Vuki confirmed today that nationally 48% of voters turned out to vote on Election Day April 24.

"The most important thing is the results of the election and those who participated in the voting got the results they voted for," said Pita.

Vava'u voters were the most enthusiastic with a 72.58% turnout with 7,258 voters, out of 10,000 registered voters.

While in Tongatapu 16,796 (56%) turned out to cast their votes out of the estimated 30,000 voters who registered. This number was 464 down on the 17,260 who turned out for the previous general election in 2005.

There was a low turnout in the other islands combined with 4,305 voters in Ha'apai, the remaining 3,600 voters were divided between 'Eua and the two Niuas.

Pita said after visiting the various polling stations throughout Tongatapu on election day everything went smoothly.

No date has been set for the opening of the 2008 Session of the Tongan Legislative Assembly but it usually opens either in the last week of May or the first week of June.

The results charted for the various polling stations throughout Tonga were confirmed by the Electoral Officer today, see:

Results, 2008 Tonga Parliamentary General Election