ONE hundred and sixty nine polling stations will be set up throughout Tonga on Election Day November 25, for registered voters to cast their votes and elect Tonga's new leaders under a new form of government.

The Supervisor of Elections Pita Vuki told Matangi Tonga Online on November 3 that preparations leading up to the election were going smoothly with only three weeks left to the historical day.

Pita said most of the 169 polling stations would be on Tongatapu, including numerous polling stations in each of its 10 constituencies. Tongatapu 3 in the capital would have around five polling stations there for voters in that area to cast their votes.

Voters are required to vote in the constituency that they registered in, with the exception of the polling station at the grounds next to the Centenary Church which is assigned for registered voters from the outer islands but who are in Tongatapu on Election Day.

The Electoral Commission will soon be announcing the venues for all polling stations in Tonga.

Pita said at the moment they were finalising the distribution of the national identification cards for registered voters, which should be done before the election. Registered voters must present the national identification card in order to cast their vote on Election Day.

Ballot paper

In the meantime, the ballot paper for the election is to be published and ready by next week, and they would start distribution to Vava'u, Ha'apai and 'Eua.

However, the ballot paper for the Niuas would not be shipped until November 15, which is the next ferry service to the Niuas.

Death

Following the death of one candidate last week a total of 146 candidates are now running, Pita confirmed.

'Osaiasi Latu (54) who was running in the Ha'apai 12 constituency died on October 27 and was buried on Saturday. A civil servant, he was the Officer in Charge of Agriculture, for the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Fisheries and Forestry in Ha'apai.