General elections were held in Vanuatu on 2 September 2008. In July the Melanesian Progressive Party requested that they be postponed, contesting the constitutionality of the Peoples Representation Act No. 33 of 2007, which allegedly enabled voters in certain constituencies to vote in two constituencies.[1] The Principal Electoral Officer, Martin Tete, confirmed that the election would take place on 2 September, as scheduled.[2] The day was declared a national holiday, to encourage people to vote.[3]
Over three hundred candidates, of which nine women, stood for election,[4] representing twenty-five political parties and approximately eighty independents.[5] There were 170,000 registered voters, and fifty-two seats to fill in Parliament in 17 multi-member constituencies.[6]
