The Cook Islands elects a legislature on a national level. The Parliament of the Cook Islands has 24 members, elected for a four-year term in single-seat constituencies.
The most recent general election was held on 12 August 2026. The Cook Islands Party gained a seat to win an overall majority, with 13 of 24 seats, with Prime Minister Mark Brown continuing in office.
There are also local elections held every four years in which mayors and councillors of the country's island governments are elected. The country's main population centre, the island of Rarotonga, has no local government so no local elections are held.
Latest election
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By-elections ElectionDateReasonWinner1963 European by-election Dick Rapley1963 Mauke by-election Julian Dashwood1963 Rarotonga by-election Teupoko'ina Morgan moved to New Zealand David Marama Hosking1965 Te-Ao-O-Tonga by-election9 July 1965Resignation of Marguerite Story Albert Henry (CIP)1966 Mauke by-electionResignation of Julian Dashwood Tupui Henry (CIP)1977 Takitumu by-election22 December 1977Death of Tiakana Numanga Iaveta Short (DP)1978 Mitiaro by-election5 October 1978 Annulment of the general election result Tiki Tetava1991 Murienua by-election Tom Marsters (CIP)1994 Ivirua by-electionDecember 1994 Jim Marurai (DAP)1996 Nikao–Panama by-electionJuly 1996 Ngamau Munokoa (DP)1999 Pukapuka-Nassau by-election29 September 1999 Invalidation of election results None2000 Pukapuka-Nassau by-election28 September 2000 Invalidation of 1999 Pukapuka-Nassau by-election. Tiaki Wuatai (NAP)2002 Penrhyn by-election27 June 2002 Disqualification of Tepure Tapaitau Wilkie Rasmussen (CIP)2003 Rua’au by-election14 August 2003 Death of Maria Heather Geoffrey Heather (DP)2003 Arutanga by-election20 November 2003 Resignation of Teina Bishop Teina Bishop (Independent)2005 Manihiki by-election8 February 2005 Resignation of Robert Woonton Henry Puna (CIP)2006 Teenui-Mapumai by-election8 June 2006 Retirement of Upoko Simpson Norman George (Independent)2006 Matavera by-election19 July 2006Conviction of Vaevae Pare for fraud Kiriau Turepu (CIP)2006 Akaoa by-election29 November 2006Previous election produced tied result Teariki Heather (CIP)2007 Titikaveka by-election7 February 2007Election of Robert Wigmore declared invalid Robert Wigmore (DP)2009 Tamarua by-election3 February 2009Death of Mii Parima Pukeiti Pukeiti (CIP)2011 Pukapuka by-election7 June 2011Election of Tekii Lazaro declared invalid Tekii Lazaro (CIP)2012 Titikaveka by-election21 June 2012Death of Robert Wigmore Selina Napa (DP)2013 Tamarua by-election29 January 2013Death of Pukeiti Pukeiti Tetangi Matapo (DP)2013 Murienua by-election19 September 2013Resignation of Tom Marsters Kaota Tuariki (CIP)2014 Murienua by-election19 February 2014Resignation of Kaota Tuariki James Beer (DP)2014 Mitiaro by-election11 November 2014Draw in the 2014 general election Results not counted due to court order.2015 Vaipae-Tautu by-election31 March 20152014 election result voided Moana Ioane (CIP)2016 Arutanga-Reureu-Nikaupara by-election13 October 2016 Teina Bishop convicted of corruption Pumati Israela (OCI)2017 Avatiu–Ruatonga–Palmerston by-election17 May 2017Resignation of Albert Nicholas Albert Nicholas (CIP)2017 Ivirua by-election17 August 2017 Resignation of Jim Marurai Tony Armstrong2019 Ivirua by-election21 January 2019 Death of Tony Armstrong Agnes ArmstrongMarch 2019 Tengatangi-Areora-Ngatiarua by-election18 March 2019 Defection of Te-Hani Brown from the Democratic Party Te-Hani BrownNovember 2019 Tengatangi-Areora-Ngatiarua by-election14 November 2019 Resignation of Te-Hani Brown Te-Hani Brown2021 Manihiki by-election5 May 2021 Resignation of Henry Puna Akaiti Puna (CIP)2024 Penrhyn by-election12 March 2024 Conviction of Robert Tapaitau for fraud Sarakura Tapaitau
See also Electoral calendar Electoral system
Notes
References