Electoral Commission Appoints Mr. Sam Vao as Acting Supervisor of Elections

Nuku‘alofa, Kingdom of Tonga – 13 January 2026 – The Electoral Commission of the Kingdom of Tonga is pleased to announce the official appointment of Mr. Sam (Samuela) Vao as the Acting Supervisor of Elections and ex officio Commissioner ad interim, effective immediately.

This strategic appointment follows the retirement of the former Supervisor of Elections, Mr. Pita Vuki, whose distinguished 28-year career concluded on 6 January 2026. The Commission extends its deepest gratitude for Mr. Vuki’s unwavering dedication to electoral integrity and democracy in Tonga.

Mr. Sam Vao brings substantial expertise and a proven track record to the role. As the current Manager of the Electoral Roll, he has been instrumental in ensuring the accuracy and accessibility of voter registers. His professional development is underscored by recent completion of prestigious international electoral programs, including:

• Pacific Training Excellence Workshop– Brisbane, Australia (May 2025)
• BRIDGE Certificate in Electoral Administration– Apia, Samoa (November 2024)
• Commonwealth Election Professionals Initiative– Nadi, Fiji (November 2024)
• AEC Twinning Program– Canberra, Australia (2025)

Demonstrating immediate leadership, the Commission has also approved Mr. Vao to represent Tonga and the Electoral Commission at the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Management (IIDEM) 2026 Conference in New Delhi, India, from 21 – 23 January 2026. His participation underscores Tonga’s active engagement with global electoral best practices.

This combination of deep institutional knowledge, current operational leadership, and active international engagement equips Mr. Vao uniquely to provide steady, competent, and forward-looking leadership during this interim period.

Mr. Vao will serve as Acting Supervisor of Elections on his existing terms and conditions until a substantive appointment is made through the recruitment process currently underway.

The Electoral Commission reaffirms its commitment to continuity, transparency, and excellence in all electoral operations. Under Mr. Vao’s interim leadership, the Commission will continue to uphold the highest standards of electoral administration in service to the God, King and Country.

All official inquiries, electoral matters, and operational communications should be directed to the Office of the Acting Supervisor of Elections.