In Vanuatu over 300,000 registered voters will go to the polls for a snap election on October 13.

Ballot box in a Vanuatu election. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades

The election was triggered after the dissolution of the country’s parliament on August 19 by President Nikenike Vurobaravu, and on the eve of a motion of no-confidence against the now caretaker prime minister Bob Loughman.

The Vanuatu electoral commission announced the official snap election timeline on Wednesday, September 7 in Port Vila.

According to the timeline candidate nominations will open September 12 and close September 21.

The official campaign period will begin October 1 with the final list of candidates to contest the election also being made public that same day.

Campaigning will close at midnight on October 10 and polling will commence on Thursday, October 13.

Voters queue at an Efate polling station, Vanuatu election 2012. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades

The election date announcement comes ahead of a Supreme Court ruling on Friday September 9 in a case challenging the Vanuatu council of ministers’ decision to request the dissolution of parliament despite knowing a motion of no confidence was scheduled to take place in parliament.

Photo: Vanuatu Election Ofis