The voter registration centre in Tuanaimato saw a large crowd on Saturday as people rushed to register before the deadline set by the Office of the Electoral Commission. Some arrived before 6 am.

Only a week remains before the registration closes.

By early morning on Saturday, individuals had already begun lining up, with some arriving as early as 5 am. Others continued to trickle in throughout the morning, with a surge of last-minute arrivals just before the booth closed its doors at noon.

Booth officials confirmed that doors were shut at noon, and only those already inside were allowed to complete their registration. No one was permitted entry after closing.

Special arrangements were made for the elderly and pensioners, who were given a separate line, making the process easier for them compared to others who waited in the main queue.

A woman from Vaitele-fou, who brought her elderly mother to register, said they arrived around 6 am to be among the first in line. “We had no time earlier to come and register because of work and looking after the kids,” she shared.

Another early arrival noted that arriving before the office opened helped speed up the process, allowing her to register quickly and return home.

She stated that it took her so long to register because she didn't have the time, as she was busy with her many duties at work, church and at home. 

As the clock neared noon, more people rushed in, hoping to beat the final entry deadline.

The Electoral Commission reminds the public that the final day for registration is 27 July and encourages eligible voters to register early to avoid last-minute delays.

As of 8 pm Friday, June 20, more than 85,000 voters have re-registered, placing the national rate at 73 per cent with just two months left before the country heads to the polls.