Vanuatu Electoral Office has announced sevens candidates to contest the by-election for the Efate Rural and Off-shore constituency.
The Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Martin Tete named the candidates and their respective political parties in the local media Friday night.
In an official publication, the Electoral Commission said “political campaigns have commenced last Friday the 16th of August and will close, midnight 30th August 2019."
Tete said he would like to remind political parties and individual candidates that precautions must be taken during the campaign period to avoid corrupt and prohibited practices as covered under the parliamentary election laws.
He said during the campaign period there should be no handouts, gifts or donations in kind.
Individual candidates or political parties convicted of engaging in corrupt practices, shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding VT 100,000 and, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years.
The government has allocated a budget of VT 14.2 Million for the by-election.
The Electoral Commission is calling on all registered voters from the Efate Rural & Offshore Islands constituency to exercise their democratic rights and vote on the polling day scheduled for Monday, 2 September 2019.
The Efate Rural and Offshore islands seat was left vacant following the death of Jerry Kanas on 24 June 2019.
The list of candidates is as follows:
1. Michel Taravaki (Vanuatu Liberal Movement)
2. John Tavasei Alfred (Graon mo Jastis Pati)
3. Timothy Thomas (Reunification Movement for Change)
4. Edwin Kalorisu (Leaders Party of Vanuatu)
5. Fateful Zakari (Peoples Progressive Party)
6. William Malas (New Nation Party)
7. Stanley Kaltoi John (Vanuaaku Party)
Photo supplied Caption: Vanuatu electoral card