By-election for Tongatapu 9 soon [1]
Wednesday, July 27, 2011 - 17:20. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
A By-election would be held soon to elect a new People's Representative for Tongatapu 9, the Electoral Supervisor, Pita Vuki told Matangi Tonga Online on July 26.
After the Speaker of the House issues a Writ of the By-election, then the Electoral office would start the process and set a date for registration of candidates for and the date for the By-election. "I think it will be held soon," he said.
This is the first By-election to be held since the new Parliament was elected on November 25, 2010.
The new Tongatapu 9 MP will fill the seat held by Kaveinga Fa'anunu who died this week.
Registration
Pita said that the same process carried out in the General Election in November last year applies to the By-election and anyone who wants to run for Tongatapu 9 must register.
Those who had registered to run in last year's election must re-register with a $400 pa'anga fee. Candidates must already be registered in the constituency they are nominated for, and in this case Tongatapu 9. They must provide 50 signatures of registered voters from this constituency as well as written clearance from the Supreme Court and the Magistrate's Court.
Tongatapu 9 includes Tatakamotonga, Holonga, 'Alakifonua, Pelehake, Toloa, Fua'amotu, Nakolo, Lavengatonga, and Ha'asini/Hamula.
A date would be first set for candidates to register before the By-election is held for one day, said Pita.