By Glenda Willie and Tensly Sumbe.
For the upcoming referendum, Vanuatu is regarded as a single constituency but is subdivided into 22 polling districts. In normal elections, polling districts are known as polling stations, and there are a total of 18 constituencies.
For the referendum, the Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Edward Kaltamat explained that there are 18 Polling Districts in Vanuatu, in addition to the New Caledonia Polling District, New Zealand Polling District, Australia Polling District, and Fiji Polling District.
There are over 300 polling stations in Vanuatu. According to Kaltamat, the authorities have planned to establish three polling stations in the New Caledonia Polling District and five polling stations in the Australia Polling District. He added that there are plans to initially set up two polling stations in the New Zealand Polling District, with intentions to increase the number to four. They are looking at setting up two polling stations in the Fiji Polling District.
A Polling Station Order will be signed by the Minister of Internal Affairs to authorise this.
Kaltamat explained that one method of voting is through direct voting, while the other is through proxy voting. He mentioned that awareness teams are currently distributing proxy forms, and individuals wanting to vote through proxy voting still have until May 14 to apply.
They are also considering the telephone dictation method, however, this will be confirmed at a later stage
