TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL VANUATU undertook a desk-based research on voter turnout in Vanuatu between 1983 and 2012 and noticed that the voter turnout has been decreasing over the years.
In 1983 there were 59, 712 registered voters and 44, 726 people had cast their votes; this means that around 75 per cent of voters voted during the 1983 general election.
In 1987, the voter turnout increased by eight per cent, which means that 83 percent of registered voters had cast their votes during the 1987 general election.
In 1998 voter turnout proved to be the lowest of all national elections at only 38%, however the figures slowly increased over the years and by 2008 voter turnout climaxed at 70 percent.
Unfortunately, the 2008 turnout could not hold as a baseline and eventually the numbers dropped down to 63 percent. Although the number of registered voters increased from 59,717 to 192,632 only 121, 792 people voted during the 2012 general elections.
The recent snap election official voter turnout is yet to be released by the Electoral Office.
Voter Turnout Since 1983
(Source of Info: Institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance)
| Year | Voter Turnout | Total vote | Registration | VAP Turnout | Voting age population | Population | Invalid votes |
| 2012 | 63.22% | 121,792 | 192,632 | 85% | 143,293 | 256,155 | 1.30% |
| 2008 | 70.38% | 107,002 | 152,043 | 82.78% | 129,255 | 230,820 | 1.40% |
| 2004 | 68.58% | 91,551 | 133,497 | 79.30% | 115,450 | 205,754 | 1.20% |
| 2002 | 63.47% | 80,657 | 127,069 | 74.18% | 108,735 | 192,910 | 1.80% |
| 1998 | 39.87% | 42,778 | 107,297 | 47.63% | 89,820 | 186,277 | 0.10% |
| 1995 | 72.44% | 76,522 | 105,631 | 78.60% | 97,362 | 169,000 | 0.60% |
| 1991 | 71.30% | 62,527 | 87,695 | 70.69% | 88,458 | 153,000 | |
| 1987 | 83% | 58,100 | 70,000 | 69.30% | 83,833 | 145,000 | |
| 1983 | 74.90% | 44,726 | 59,712 | 62.39% | 71,692 | 124,000 | 0.10% |
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