Nauruans to vote on new parliament and constitutional change

Voters in Nauru will head to the polls this weekend to decide on two important decisions.

One is to elect members of parliament, and the other is to decide on whether to change the country’s constitution.

In the lead-up to the vote, Nauru is also hosting cultural events, including the Musical Festival and the Miss Micronesia Pageant, which will be held from 6 to 9 October.

What’s the election about?

Nauru’s parliament has 19 members, elected from eight voting areas called constituencies, which are made up of the country’s 14 districts.

A total of 60 candidates are running for parliament this year, including six women.

Voters will also decide whether to extend the length of a parliamentary term from three years to four years.

While parliament has already approved this change, it can only become law if at least two-thirds of voters support it in a national referendum.

Nauru is a member of Micronesia and is located just over 4000km north of New Zealand. It has a population of about 12,000, according to the country's Census 2024.

Watch Nauru President David Adeang's address to the UN General Assembly below.

Voting information

• Voting is compulsory for all Nauruan citizens aged 20 and over.

• The Nauru Electoral Commission recently held a draw to assign candidate numbers on the ballot.

• The Commission is encouraging everyone who is eligible to vote and have their say.

Who’s running?

One of the most closely watched contests is in Ubenide, where 12 candidates, including current President David Adeang, are competing for four seats.

Residents attend the candidate ballot draw last week organised by the Nauru Electoral Commission, which is urging all eligible voters to participate and make their voices heard. Photo/Facebook/Nauru Media News, NTV

Here’s a breakdown of the constituencies and how many members each will elect:

• Aiwo - two seats

• Anabar - two seats

• Anetan - two seats

• Boe - two seats

• Buada - two seats

• Meneng - three seats

• Ubenide - four seats

• Yaren - two seats

Nauru’s election and referendum are set to shape the future of the Pacific island nation, both in leadership and how long those leaders serve.