By Tupou Vaipulu Jr

The Electoral Commission in Tonga shared the allocated locations for polling booths today, ahead of the general election on Thursday, 20 November. There are also special polling places in each island group for constituents who are regisered on other islands.

Candidates can vote in the elections. There is no campaigning allowed on election day and all voters are required to leave the premises after voting.

Today the Electoral Commissioner, Pita Vuki, met with and briefed international election observers who have arrived in Tonga.

However, he was unavailable to confirm the number of registered voters after the extended registration deadline, and the also the final number of candidates on the ballots. In past elections some candidates have been disqualified by the commission for not meeting all the requirements.

There are 17 constituencies: 10 in Tongatapu, one in 'Eua, two in Ha'apai, three in Vava'u and one for the Niuas. Most of the polling places are in church or community halls.

Tonga Meteorological Services outlook forecasts a high liklihood of rain or showers throughout central and southern Tonga while the Niuas are likely to be fine, on election day.

Polling locations

Tongatapu 1

• Hala'ovave - Holo Mele Siu'ilikutapu
• 'Isileli - Holo SUTT
• Kapeta - Holo SUTT
• Kolomotu'a - Holo SUTT (Papai 'o Uesile)
• Longolongo - Holo SUTT
• Sopu 'o Taufa'ahau- Holo SUTT
• Tongata'eapa - Holo SUTT
• Tu'atakilangi - Holo SUTT
• Tufuenga - Holo SUTT
• Vaololoa - Holo SUTT

Tongatapu 2

• Fanga 'o Pilolevu- Holo SUTT
• Haveluloto- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Kolofo'ou Tt2- Holo Siasi Faka'Ingilani, Kolofo'ou
• Mailetaha- Holo LDS, Hala Taufa'ahau
• Tofoa/Koloua Tt2- Holo Siasi Katolika Loma, Tofoa 

Tongatapu 3

• Pahu ('Amaile & Pahu)- Holo Siasi Faka'Ingilani, Pahu
• Fasi Moe Afi- Holo Siasi Faka'Ingilani, Fasi
• Ma'ufanga- Holo Siasi Tonga Tau'ataina
• Halaleva- Holo SUTT
• Kolofo'ou Tt3- Holo Siasi 'o Tonga, Kolofo'ou (Pikula)
• Mataika- Holo SUTT
• Ngele'ia- Holo SUTT 

Tongatapu 4

• 'Anana ('Anana & 'Umusi)- Holo SUTT, 'Anana
• Fangaloto- Holo Siasi 'o Tonga
• Houmakelikao- Holo SUTT
• Ma'ufanga- Holo Sangato Sosefo
• Nukunukumotu- Holo Faka-Kolo 
• Pangaimotu/Patangata/Tukutonga- Holo SUTT Patangata
• Popua- Holo Siasi Tonga Tau'ataina 

Tongatapu 5

• 'Ahau- Holo Faka-Kolo 
• 'Atata- Holo SUTT
• Fahefa- Holo Sosaieti, Fahefa
• Fo'ui- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Ha'atafu- Holo SUTT
• Ha'avakatolo- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Ha'utu- Holo Sosaieti, Fahefa
• Kala'au- Fale Hufanga 'o Talafaiva
• Kanokupolu- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Kolovai- Holo SUTT
• Masilamea- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Matafonua- Holo Misi-Kuo-Ola
• Matahau- Holo SUTT
• Nukunuku- Holo LDS, Nukunuku
• Te'ekiu- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Vaotu'u Holo SUTT 

Tongatapu 6

• Fatai- Holo Mofilini
• Ha'akame- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Ha'alalo- Holo Fungafaka'ala
• Hofoa- Holo SUTT
• Houma- Holo Mapu-'a-Vaea
• Kahoua- Holo LDS
• Lakepa- Holo SUTT
• Liahona- Holo LDS, Navu
• Lomaiviti- Holo SUTT
• Makapaeo- Holo SUTT
• Matangiake- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Puke- Holo Siasi 'o Tonga
• Sia'atoutai- Holo Fakamanatu 'o Salesi mo Sione Uesile 300
• 'Utulau- Holo SUTT

Tongatapu 7

• Ha'ateiho- Holo SUTT
• Lotoha'apai- Holo Siasi 'o Tonga
• Pea- Holo Hungalu 'o Pea
• Tofoa/Koloua Tt7- Holo SUTT
• Tokomololo- Holo SUTT

Tongatapu 8

• Folaha- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Longoteme- Holo Siasi Katolika Loma
• Malapo- Holo SUTT
• Nukuhetulu- Holo SUTT
• Vaini- Holo Siasi 'o Tonga
• Veitongo- Holo SUTT

Tongatapu 9

• 'Alakifonua- Holo LDS, 'Alakifonua
• Fatumu- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Fua'amotu- Holo Hoositea
• Ha'asini & Hamula- Holo SUTT, Ha'asini
• Havelulliku- Holo Makatolo 'a Maui
• Holonga- Holo SUTT
• Lavengatonga- Holo SUTT
• Nakolo- Holo SUTT
• Pelehake- Holo SUTT
• Tatakamotonga- Holo Fatu
• Toloa- Holo 'a e Kolisi

Tongatapu 10

• Afa- Holo SUTT
• 'Eueiki- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Hoi- Holo LDS
• Kolonga- Holo SUTT
• Lapaha- Holo SUTT
• Makaunga- Holo Siasi Tonga Tau'ataina
• Manuka- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Navutoka- Holo SUTT
• Niutoua- Holo SUTT
• Nukuleka- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Talafo'ou- Holo Maliepo
• Talasiu- Holo Salvation Army

'Eua 11

• Angaha- Holo Faka-Kolo
• 'Esia- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Fata'ulua- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Futu- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Houma- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Kolomaile- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Mata'aho- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Mu'a- Holo Faka-Kolo
• 'Ohonua- Holo Petelihema
• Pangai- Holo Faka-Kolo 
• Petani- Holo Faka-Kolo 
• Sapa'ata- Holo Faka-Kolo 
• Ta'anga- Holo SUTT
• Tongamama'o- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Tufuvai- Holo SUTT
• Mango/'Eua- Holo SUTT, Ta'anga

Ha'apai 12

• Felemea- Holo Faka-Kolo 
• Ha'ato'u- Holo 'Avila
• Hihifo- Holo Toluafe
• Holopeka- Holo Siasi 'o Tonga
• Koulo- Holo SUTT
• Lofanga- Holo Vai Ko Tokomea
• Mo'unga'one- Holo SUTT
• Pangai & Navea- Holo 'a e Kolosi Kula
• 'Uiha- Holo SUTT 

Ha'apai 13

• Fakakakai- Holo Siasi 'o Tonga
• Faleloa- Holo Faka-Kolo 
• Fangale'ounga- Holo SUTT
• Fonoifua- Holo SUTT
• Fotua- Holo SUTT
• Fotuha'a- 'Api Lautohi Pule'anga, Fotuha'a
• Ha'afakahenga- Holo LDS, Feleloa
• Ha'afeva- Holo SUTT
• Ha'ano- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Ha'ateihosi'i- Holo Siasi Tonga Tau'ataina
• Kotu & Tofua- Holo SUTT, Kotu
• Lotofoa- Holo SUTT
• Matuku- 'Api Lautohi Pule'anga, Matuku
• Muitoa- Holo Faka-Kolo 
• Nomuka- Holo Faka-Kolo 
• 'O'ua- Holo SUTT
• Pukotala- Holo SUTT
• Tungua- Holo Siasi 'o Tonga

Vava'u 14

• Falevai- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Hunga- Holo Faka-Kolo 
• Kapa- Holo Faka-Kolo 
• Lape- Holo Faka-Kolo 
• Longomapu- Holo SUTT 
• Matamaka- Holo Faka-Kolo 
• Nuapapu- Holo Faka-Kolo 
• Ofu- Holo Faka-Kolo 
• Okoa- Holo Faka-Kolo 
• Olo'ua- Holo Faka-Kolo 
• 'Otea- Holo Faka-Kolo 
• Ovaka- Holo Faka-Kolo 
• Pangaimotu- Holo SUTT 
• Talihau- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Taoa- Holo SUTT
• Taunga- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Tefisi- Holo SUTT
• Tu'anuku Holo SUTT
• 'Utulei- Holo Faka-Kolo
• 'Utungake- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Vaimalo- Holo SUTT

Vava'u 15

• Falaleu- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Fungamisi- Holo Nasaleti
• Makave- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Neiafu- Holo Fakamelino
• Toula- Holo Faka-Kolo
• 'Utui- Holo SUTT

Vava'u 16

• Feletoa- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Ha'akio- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Ha'alaufuli- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Holeva- Holo Siasi Tonga Tau'ataina
• Holonga- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Houma-Holo SUTT
• Koloa- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Leimatu'a- Holo Sila Ki Vai
• Mangia- Holo SUTT
• Mataika- Holo SUTT
• Ta'anea- Holo SUTT
• Tu'anekivale- Holo SUTT

Ongo Niua 17 

• 'Esia- Holo Faka-Kolo 
• Falehau- Holo SUTT
• Fata'ulua- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Hihifo- Holo Sosefo
• Kolofo'ou- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Mata'aho- Holo SUTT
• Mu'a- Holo SUTT
• Petani- Holo SUTT
• Sapa'ata- Holo Faka-Kolo
• Tafahi- 'Api Lautohi Pule'anga, Tafahi
• Tongamama'o- Holo SUTT
• Vaipoa- Holo SUTT

Meanwhile, voters registered in the outer islands, but are in Tongatapu on the day of the elections, can vote at these locations: 

• Vava’u, ‘Eua and ‘Eu’eiki - LDS Hall, Hala Vaha’akolo, Teufaiva 
• Ha’apai and the Niuas – LDS Hall, Hala Taufa’ahau, Mailataha 

Voter’s outside of the following islands can vote in these allocated locations on the day of the election: 

• Voters registered outside of ‘Eua can vote at the Holo Malau in ‘Eua on the day of the election. 
• Voters registered outside of Ha’apai can vote at the Free Church of Tonga Hall in Pangai, Ha'apai on the day of the election. 
• Voters registered outside of Vava’u can vote at the Free Church of Tonga Hall, Neiafu, Vava'u on the day of the election. 
• Voters registered outside of the Niuas can vote at the Niuas Representatives’ Office on the day of the election.