7 Jun 2018

Cost of Cook Islands election revealed

8:51 pm on 7 June 2018

Next week's general election in the Cook Islands will cost taxpayers a total of $US211,000.

Cook Islands flag

Photo: RNZ/ Tim Glasgow

The Cook Islands News reported the chief electoral officer saying the budget is similar to that of the last election in 2014.

Taggy Tangimetua said in 2014, the entire budget was not used, but probably will be this year.

Ms Tangimetua said the cost of sending ballot boxes and election officers to the northern group islands had increased significantly

She said it was initially planned to ship the ballot boxes as it was assumed the election would take place in September or October.

However, she said since the election was called earlier, the boxes had to be flown from Rarotonga.

Voting started on Saturday on Palmerston in the northern group, followed by Nassau on Wednesday.

A total of 10,317 people from 24 constituencies are registered to vote in the election.

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