7 Sep 2004

Cook Islands ready for general election

3:43 pm on 7 September 2004

Final preparations for tomorrow's general elections in the Cook Islands are underway with officials setting up polling booths around the country.

The deputy chief electoral officer, No'opaii Tearea, says there's been a rise in the number of registered voters on Rarotonga and Aitutaki, but falls elsewhere.

He says there are a total of 9,712 people registered to vote, including 6,512 on Rarotonga.

Mr Tearea says there are a good number of polling booths for people to cast their vote.

"There are 29 booths altogether, 13 for the island of Rarotonga and the rest in the outer islands. They'll be set up in the usual places such as meeting houses, Sunday School halls or community centres."

Mr Tearea says there will be three officials manning the booth and candidates are allowed to nominate two scrutineers for the counting.

A three person team from the University of the South Pacific is in the Cook Islands to observe the elections.