Elections in the Cook Islands

Cook Islands

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of the Cook Islands

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Elections in the Cook Islands gives information on election and election results in the Cook Islands.

The Cook Islands elects on national level a legislature. The Parliament of the Cook Islands has 24 members, elected for a four year term in single-seat constuencies. The Cook Islands have a two-party system, which means that there are two dominant political parties, with extreme difficulty for anybody to achieve electoral success under the banner of any other party.

An election was held on September 26, 2006, after the opposition Cook Islands Party won a byelection in Matevera, leaving the government without a majority. The result was a close victory for the Democratic Party.

The next election will be held in September, 2010.

Latest election

Main article: Cook Islands general election, 2010

 Summary of the 17 November 2010 Cook Islands election results

Parties	Votes	%	Seats
Cook Islands Party	3,753	44.5	16
Democratic Party	3,302	39.2	8
Party Tumu	160	1.9	0
Te Kura O Te ‘Au People's Movement	145	1.7	0
Independents	1058	12.5	0
Total	8,418	100.0	24
Source: cookislands.de

By-elections

Below is a list of recent by-elections:

Election	Date	Reason	Winner
1965 Te-Ao-O-Tonga by-election	July 1965	Resignation of Marguerite Story	Albert Henry (CIP)
1965 Mauke by-election	November 1967		Tupui Henry (CIP)
1994 Ivirua by-election	December 1994		Jim Marurai (CIP)
2000 Pukapuka-Nassau by-election	28 September 2000		Tiaki Wuatai (NAP)
2002 Penrhyn by-election	June 2002	Disqualification of Tepure Tapaitau	Wilkie Rasmussen (CIP)
2003 Rua’au by-election	14 August 2003	Death of Maria Heather	Geoffrey Heather (DP)
2003 Arutanga by-election	20 November 2003	Resignation of Teina Bishop	Teina Bishop (Independent)
2005 Manihiki by-election	8 February 2005	Resignation of Robert Woonton	Henry Puna (CIP)
2006 Teenui-Mapumai by-election	8 June 2006	Retirement of Upoko Simpson	Norman George (Independent)
2006 Matavera by-election	19 July 2006	Conviction of Vaevae Pare for fraud	Kiriau Turepu (CIP)
2006 Akaoa by-election	29 November 2006	Previous election produced tied result	Teariki Heather (CIP)
2007 Titikaveka by-election	7 February 2007	Election of Robert Wigmore declared invalid	Robert Wigmore (DP)
2009 Tamarua by-election	3 February 2009	Death of Mii Parima	Pukeiti Pukeiti (CIP)
2011 Pukapuka by-election	7 June 2011	Election of Tekii Lazaro declared invalid

See also

• Electoral calendar
• Electoral system