26 Aug 2016

UN reports on New Caledonia electoral rolls

7:45 pm on 26 August 2016
Noumea, New Caledonia

Noumea, New Caledonia Photo: AFP

A United Nations report on New Caledonia is encouraging those eligible to vote to enrol on the relevant rolls as the territory nears the 2018 independence referendum.

Two rolls are being worked on - one for provincial elections and one for the plebiscite.

The issues have been contentious for years as voting rights are restricted to long-term residents, with mainly Kanak politicians challenging the integrity of the roll.

The UN team has said its job is a technical one and it's a work in progress for those in charge of finalising the rolls.

A UN official says in the report there is no reference to any alleged fraud, adding that there have been developments to improve the work and build confidence.