22 Jun 2018

Cooks seats could change hands after final count

12:28 pm on 22 June 2018

There is a possibility some seats may change hands when the final counting of the votes from last week's Cook Islands general election is completed next week, according to the Cook Islands News.

The Electoral Office confirmed it would release the final result on June 28 following two half days of counting on Tuesday and Wednesday.

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Photo: 123RF

According to the preliminary results five constituencies recorded close results - one with just a single vote and four others with 8-10 votes.

Chief electoral officer Taggy Tangimetua said a significant number of votes still had to be counted.

These include the advance, special and postal votes.

Ms Tangimetua said the final counting would include two processes.

First, she said the scrutiny of the roll would take place followed by the counting of the votes.

After preliminary counting, the Democratic Party holds 11 seats, the governing Cook Islands Party has 10, independents have two seats and the One Cook Islands party has one.