Commonwealth observer group calls for more youth engagement in Tonga's electoral process Featured
Margaret Wilson
21 November, 2017. The Commonwealth Observer Group to Tonga says it will be recommending more civic education, after overseeing last week's elections.
The group's head and former New Zealand cabinet minister, Margaret Wilson, said Thursday's vote was conducted peacefully and professionally.
However, she said there was a need for ongoing information about the electoral system.
Ms Wilson said there was also an issue with encouraging youth to participate in the process.
"That will be an ongoing issue, as it is in a lot of other countries, so a lot of our focus was on how in fact we can support youth participation.
"So some of the recommendations were around that and schools et cetera so there's awareness of what the electoral process is, and more importantly, why it is important that individuals participate."
-RNZI
