Provincial elections

Counting of votes has been taking place since voters went to the polls last Thursday in the provinces of Malampa, Penama, Shefa and Tafea.

The Reunification of Movements for Change (RMC) is reported to unofficially have secured the most seats followed by the Vanua’aku Party (VP).

Leaders Party Vanuatu (LPV) and Graon and Justice Party (GJP) are reported to be tied in third place.

Unofficial results indicate RMC have picked 14 seats, VP 12 seats, and LPV and GJP 10 seats each.

Four of Vanuatu's six provinces - Malampa, Penama, Shefa and Tafea - went to the polls to vote for their provincial councils on Thursday.

The Daily Post reports that votes were still being tallied, but overall voter turnout was low at polling stations around the provinces.

In the southern Tafea province, the chief registrar, David Tovurvur, said only about 50 percent of registered voters showed up to polling stations.

RNZ reports the electoral commission says the four-year terms of the Malampa, Penama, Shefa and Tafea councils have come to an end.

It says applications for candidates hoping to contest the elections opens on the 13th of February, ahead of the campaign's start on the 6th of March.

The commission's chairman, Martin Tete, is appealing for people to register to vote, and for political parties and candidates to not wait until the last minute to register.