The Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Edward Kaltamat, has made several important announcements ahead of the upcoming General Election scheduled for January 14, 2025. These updates cover amendment areas, candidate fees, and eligibility criteria for current councillors wishing to contest.
1. Voting in Amendment Areas
Under Amendment No. 10 of 2012, voters residing in certain rural areas are allowed to vote in municipal elections. This applies to specific areas in Efate and Luganville, which will continue to use the same polling stations until further boundary adjustments are made by the Electoral Commission.
Efate Amendment Areas
- Manples
- Beverly Hills
- Bellevue
- Salili
- End of International Airport
- Bladiniere
- Tamalesi
- Malapoa
- Blacksand
- Etas
- Teouma Field
- Koparavi Area
Luganville Amendment Areas
- Showground
- Solomon Hill
- Capricorn Area
- Nakar
- Banban
- Jubilee Farm
- Hekeri
- Usa
- Berol
- Rata
- Aore
Kaltamat explained that these provisions remain under the current legislation until boundary delimitation is completed.
2. Candidate Fees
The fee for candidates contesting in the General Election is now set at 150,000 VUV. This update reflects the increasing costs of election management. For municipal elections, the fee remains at 20,000 VUV, pending review after the by-election.
3. Resignation Requirement for Councillors
A key change in the electoral process is the resignation requirement for current provincial or municipal councillors wishing to contest in the General Election. According to Kaltamat, councillors must submit a written resignation to the Minister of Internal Affairs no later than seven days after the date announced by the commission. These updates aim to ensure transparency and fairness as Vanuatu prepares for its next electoral cycle.
