Tonga
- System of government
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05
Unitary parliamentaryconstitutional monarchy
System of government-References:
- Total population
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05
| 103,036 |
Total population-References:
- Total area (in square kilo meters)
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05
| 748 km2 |
Total area (in square kilo meters)-References:
- Number of registered voters
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 51,448
Number of registered voters-References:
- Number of registered political parties
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Number of polling stations
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Average number of voters per polling station
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Voting age
- Last Updated : 2016-08-30 21
Voting age-References:
- Elected Offices
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Election system
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 Plurality (FPTP)
Election system-References:
- Terms of office
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 Tonga has a unicameral Legislative Assembly (Fale Alea), in which 9 members are elected by hereditary state rulers to serve 4-year terms and 17 members are elected by plurality vote in single-member constituencies to serve 4-year terms.
Terms of office-References:
- Election
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 Tongan general election, 2014
Election-References:
- Date
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 27 November 2014
Date-References:
- Political parties in the elections
- Last Updated : 2016-11-30
| Eligible by number of seats won | |
| - Democratic Party of Friendly Islands | |
Political parties in the elections-References:
- Number of elected candidates
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Voter turnout
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 79%
Voter turnout-References:
- Number of ballots cast
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 40,727
Number of ballots cast-References:
- Legal framework for elections
- Last Updated : 2016-08-30 Part of Constitution - Separate legislation - Regulations or administrative rules
Legal framework for elections-References:
- Legal provisions
- Last Updated : 2016-11-30 Constitution of Tonga, Art. 8:
Legal provisions-References:
- Referenda
- Last Updated : 2016-11-30 Neither the Constitution, nor the electoral legislation include provisions for any referenda.
Referenda-References:
- People’s Initiatives
- Last Updated : 2016-11-30 Constitution of Tonga, Art. 8:
People’s Initiatives-References:
- Recall Votes
- Last Updated : 2016-11-30 N/A
Recall Votes-References:
- Official name
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 Tonga Electoral Commission
Official name -References:
- Mission, Vision, Key Objectives, Functions
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Type of EMB(independent, governmental, mixed)
- Last Updated : 2016-08-30 Independent
Type of EMB(independent, governmental, mixed)-References:
- EMB budget source
- Last Updated : 2016-08-30 The Prime Minister - Other
EMB budget source-References:
- EMB expenditure audit
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 Other
EMB expenditure audit-References:
- Number of EMB members (commissioners)
- Last Updated : 2016-08-30 1 - 10 members
Number of EMB members (commissioners)-References:
- Term of EMB members (commissioners)
- Last Updated : 2016-08-30 For a specified number of years
Term of EMB members (commissioners)-References:
- Who appoints members (commissioners)?
- Last Updated : 2016-08-30 Head of State
Who appoints members (commissioners)?-References:
- Selection of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson
- Last Updated : 2016-08-30 Presidential/ Prime Minister appointment
Selection of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson-References:
- Administrative divisions
- Last Updated : 2016-11-02
The island country of Tonga has five levels of administrative divisions of Tonga. Each of these is further divided into a total of 23 districts.
Administrative divisions -References:
- Delimitation of constituencies(electoral district)
- Last Updated : 2016-11-02 Each determination of electoral boundaries shall be made by dividing the Kingdom into 17 electoral constituencies containing an equal number of residents
Delimitation of constituencies(electoral district) -References:
- Criteria for drawing boundaries
- Last Updated : 2016-08-30 "Equality" of population - Respecting natural barriers - Conformity with local jurisdiction boundaries - Communities of interest/cultural concerns
Criteria for drawing boundaries-References:
- Body responsible for drawing boundaries
- Last Updated : 2016-11-02 The Electoral Boundaries Commission
Body responsible for drawing boundaries-References:
- Requirements on the right to vote
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Reasons for having the right to vote revoked
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Electoral Eligibility
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Reasons for having the eligibility revoked
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Requirements for party registration
- Last Updated : 2016-08-30
Signature requirement - Deposit requirement
Requirements for party registration-References:
- Candidate nomination
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Nomination by political parties
- Self nomination (independents)
- Candidate Registration (National Assembly members)
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Requirement
- Period
- Method
- Application form
- Acceptance and notice
- Restriction/Prohibition on candidate registration
- Candidate registration deposit
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Amount of fee
- Return of fee
- Uncontested Election
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Preparation of the voters list
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Whether the registration is compulsory (or not)
- Last Updated : 2016-11-02 Yes
Whether the registration is compulsory (or not)-References:
- Who is responsible for the voters list
- Last Updated : 2016-11-02 Election Management Body
Who is responsible for the voters list -References:
- Voters list preparation procedure
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Inspection and objection procedure
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Definition
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Period
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Methods
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Prohibited forms of campaigning
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Who is not permitted to campaign
- Campaign Finance
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Campaign expense limit
- Income and expenditure of campaign expense
- Report, public inspection, and open of income and expenditure
- Investigation on income and expenditure of campaign expense & actions
- Reimbursement of campaign expense
- Presiding officers
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
① How many of officers in a polling station
② Roles of each officer
③ How we nominate the officers
- Facilities or items a polling station is equipped with
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Polling station location criteria
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Voting hours
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Voting
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
① Is compulsory or voluntary?
② How many ballot papers are distributed to each voter?
- Ballot Paper
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
① Determination of the order of candidates on ballots
② What has to be included in the ballot paper?
③ Ballot paper design or sample ballot paper
④ Valid and invalid ballot paper
- Voting Procedures
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Start ofvoting
- Process of voting
- End of voting
- Marking method
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Special voting (Absentee / Early / Proxy / Assisted / Postal / etc)
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
① Who are subjected to do
② Voting procedures
- Counting Location
- Last Updated : 2016-08-30 The polling stations
Counting Location-References:
- Counting period
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Vote counting method
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Counting Procedures
- Last Updated : 2016-08-30 Number of ballots in box reconciled against number of voters - Number of ballots reconciled against ballots initially received (minus spoilt and unused) - Single tallying as voters are being called out - Sorted into piles according to individual party/candidate - Counted by hand - Data fed into computer for calculation - Observers and party agents are permitted to take their own copies of the results
Counting Procedures-References:
- When are ballots recounted?
- Last Updated : 2016-08-30 By request
When are ballots recounted?-References:
- Who is eligible to vote for overseas voting?
- Last Updated : 2016-11-02 Outside the country voting is not permitted
Who is eligible to vote for overseas voting?-References:
- Overseas voters list preparation
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Where to vote
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Voting procedure for early voting
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Methods used to transport ballot papers
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Counting procedure
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- How is the elected candidate chosen in the case of a tie?
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Apportioning of National Assembly seats
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Results Announcement
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Is the announcement of preliminary result required?
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Deadline for announcement of final results
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Reason for holding a by- or re-election
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- By-election dates
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Electoral process
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Criteria for allocating free broadcast time
- Last Updated : 2016-08-30 As agreed by special committee
Criteria for allocating free broadcast time-References:
- Television debates
- Last Updated : 2016-11-02 N/A
Television debates-References:
- Blackout period for release of election survey results
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Electoral dispute resolution body
- Last Updated : 2016-11-02 the Supreme Court, and Electoral Appeal Committee
Electoral dispute resolution body-References:
- Electoral dispute resolution mechanism
- Last Updated : 2016-11-30
17 Recounts.
(1) Any candidate may, within one week of the declaration of the poll,
demand in writing addressed to the Supervisor of elections, that the votes
be recounted
Electoral dispute resolution mechanism-References:
- Alternative electoral dispute resolution mechanism
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Direct public funding
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- If so, eligibility criteria for direct public funding
- If so, how this fund will be allocated
- Private funding of political parties
- Last Updated : 2016-11-02
any donation made within 6 months of an election, either by a candidate or on his behalf, the cost of any entertaining (including food, drink or provision) paid by or on behalf of a candidate within 6 months of an election and travelling or transportation expenses paid by or on behalf of a candidate, to enable people to travel to a polling station. Within one month after an election, every candidate shall deliver to the Supervisor a sworn statement of his election expenses.
Private funding of political parties-References:
- Regulation, monitoring and investigation
- Last Updated : 2016-11-02 Sanctions include Fines, Loss of nomination of candidate, and Loss of elected office
Regulation, monitoring and investigation-References:
- Regulation, monitoring and investigation bodies
- Last Updated : 2016-11-02 N/A
Regulation, monitoring and investigation bodies-References:
- Which electoral processes are using ICTs?
- Last Updated : 2016-11-02
N/A
Which electoral processes are using ICTs? -References:
- When it was introduced
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Gender equality
- Last Updated : 2016-11-30
Female Population: 53,041 (July 2014 est)Is Tonga a signatory to CEDAW: N/A
Has Tonga ratified CEDAW: N/A
Gender Quota: No.
Female Candidates in this election: 11
Number of Female Legislators: 1 (3.6%) of 26 seats in Tonga’s unicameral Legislative Assembly (Fale Alea).
Human Development Index (HDI) Position: 100
Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Ranking: Not Ranked (latest rankings are from 2012)
Gender equality-References:
- Aids for disabled or handicapped voters
- Last Updated : 2016-11-30 Is Tonga a signatory to CRPD: Yes (15 November 2007)
· Has Tonga ratified CRPD: No
· Population with a disability: 16,231 (est.)
Aids for disabled or handicapped voters -References:
- Voter education
- Last Updated : 2016-08-30 Election time only
Voter education-References:
- National civic education
- Last Updated : 2016-08-30 conducted by the National Electoral Management Body
National civic education-References:
- EMB Staff education
- Last Updated : 2016-11-30 N/A
EMB Staff education-References:
- Domestic observation
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- International observation
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Partnerships/MoUs
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- International Activities
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Major challenges to elections
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Measures taken to deal with those Challenges
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03