A by-election to elect a new People's Representative for Tongatapu No. 9 will be held on September 15, the Electoral Supervisor Pita Vuki told Matangi Tonga Online on August 3.

Pita said nine polling stations would be set up at the villages in Tongatapu No. 9 constituency and there will also be one station each in the outer islands of Vava'u, Ha'apai, 'Eua and the two Niuas.

The polling stations would open at 9:00pm and close at 4:00pm. Votes would be counted with the successful candidate to be announced on the same evening.

Prior to the by-election, the registration of candidates would be held for one day on August 18 at the Electoral Commission office in Nuku'alofa from 10:00am to 3:00pm.

The date for the by-election was set after the Writ of Election for a Representative of the People for Tongatapu 9 Electoral Constituency was issued by the Acting Speaker of the House Lord Tu'iafitu on
July 26.

The new representative will fill the seat held by the late Kaveinga Fa'anunu who died on July 24.

Registration

Pita reminded candidates who wished to register that they must fill out a nomination form and provide 50 signatures of registered voters from the Tongatapu 9 Constituency, written clearance from the Supreme Court and the Magistrate's Court and $400 registration fee.

Tongatapu 9 consists of Tatakamotonga, Holonga, 'Alakifonua, Pelehake, Toloa, Fua'amotu, Nakolo, Lavengatonga, and Ha'asini/Hamula.

To date a few people have picked up their registration forms, said Pita.