Australian citizens can vote in person in their country’s federal election for the first time in the Cook Islands today.

Australians living in Rarotonga can cast their votes between 8.30am to 3.30pm at Crown Beach Resort conference room.

The Australian High Commissioner to the Cook Islands, Christopher Watkins, said there is a strong community of roughly 300 Australians in the Cook Islands, many of whom have Cook Islander heritage.

“I’m excited to be able to open a one-day voting centre for that community and any visiting Australian tourists,” Watkins said.

“We will be offering a democracy sausage to those who turn up around lunch time in the time-honoured tradition.”

Australia will hold its federal election on May 21.

Between 40,000 and 60,000 Cook Islanders live in Australia and many have taken on Australian citizenship.