general elections

A fire at the BCN's offices last week destroyed the TV studios and editing suite, and seriously damaged the radio studios.

That hit plans for debates, meet-the-candidate sessions and extensive live coverage in the week of the election.

A journalist at the BCN, Sofaia Koroitanoa, said they had ve been scrambling to find ways to cover an election from a temporary office with no broadcasting equipment.

Polling officials at stations throughout Vanuatu confirmed encountering few or no issues since opening their doors at 7.30am and closing at 4.30pm.

Common issues reportedly faced in most polling stations were the name of a voter did not match that in the electoral roll, or was nowhere to be found on the electoral list.

Most polling stations have seen a good turnout while others have reported poor results.

Unofficial results have shown the Caretaker Minister of Education Minister, Jean Pierre Niura may have lost his seat in Port Vila constituency.

The chair of the Vanuatu Electoral Commission, Martin Tete, says the postponement has affected more than 13,000 voters in Ambae, Maewo, Torba and Banks and Torres.

Mr Tete said voting throughout the rest of the country went well yesterday bar some logistical difficulties and despite community concerns about the Covid-19 coronavirus.

He said counting is well underway at polling locations that have completed voting but says the electoral commission will not release official results until next week.

The Vanuatu Daily Post reports campaigning ended yesterday prior to Thursday's vote.

On Monday, police asked local media to advise the public that all campaign posters had to be removed.

It is also now illegal to spread awareness about political parties or candidates, including on social media.

However, the Director of Electoral Office Joe Iati said campaign material posted before midnight Monday could remain online.

Superintendent Namen Kali said anyone caught campaigning would be charged with an electoral offence.

  He told supporters he had "always believed in miracles" as partial results showed the Liberal-National Coalition close to a majority.

Opposition Labor Party leader Bill Shorten has announced he is resigning after accepting defeat.

Exit polls had suggested a narrow Labor win for the first time in six years.

The final result of the election may not be known for some hours, but with more than 70% of votes counted the Coalition has won, or is ahead in, 74 seats in its quest for a 76-seat majority, with Labor on just 66 seats.

In a preliminary statement released over the weekend, its chairperson, former Vanuatu prime minister Sato Kilman, says the group acknowledged the efforts of the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission to conduct the election under the country's new Electoral Act which was brought in just the year before.

Mr Kilman said his group observed some positive aspects of the process and also identified areas that could be improved to enhance the country's democratic process.

The group is made up of eminent persons from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and the Pacific.

Mr Kilman said his team of 15 would travel to several provinces including the capital Honiara and observe the organisation and conduct of the election including the environment in which it is held.

Weather warnings are in place for the whole of Fiji as more than 550,000 voters make their way to the polling booths.

It is a public holiday in Fiji, which is going to the polls for just the second time in 12 years.

Voters have a choice of 233 candidates, from six political parties, vying for 51 seats.

Voters have been urged to double check where they are due to vote or risk being turned away.

Two-thousand police have been deployed and the military is on stand-by.

The police chief is warning rumour-mongers not to create unnecessary fear.

Local media report Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama advised President Jioji Konrote to dissolve parliament today.

Bainimarama visited Government House in Suva this morning and he met with President Konrote for about 30 minutes.

Bainimarama returned from New York earlier today.

President Konrote will issue the Writ of Elections on Monday.

Photo file. Caption: A voter casts her vote in the 2014 General Elections in Fiji 

Preliminary results are expected to be all in by 10 o'clock tonight local time.

When Prime Minister Henry Puna announced the June 14 date for the general elections less than two months ago, there was a general feeling of relief that there would be only a short lead-up time to polling day.

Long campaign periods have been known to place the small communities in the Cook Islands under considerable pressure as party politics plays a major role in the lives of many.