ROAD TOWN, British Virgin Islands (CMC) – Voters in this Overseas British Territory are today casting ballots to elect a new government.

A total of 42 candidates are seeking to enter the 13 member House of Assembly. Electoral officials say there are 13,585 registered voters.

Last Friday, senior citizens and police as well as electoral officials were allowed to cast ballots in what is termed here as “Advance polling Day”.

Premier D Orlando Smith is leading his National Democratic Party (NDP) into the elections hoping to increase on the nine seats it won five years ago.

But it faces a strong challenge from the main opposition, Virgin Islands Party (VIP), which is heading to the polls for the first time under its relatively new leader – Julian Fraser, who was selected after 81-year-old Ralph T O’Neal opted not to seek re-election.

There are also a number of independent candidates contesting the elections, which also involves two minor political organizations –People’s Empowerment Party (PEP) and the People’s Progressive Coalition (PPC).

Both the NDP and VIP have each nominated the maximum 13 candidates. The PEP has five candidates, and the PPC has three. There are six independents.

Voting is ongoing at 22 polling stations across the territory and the polling stations will close at 6:00 pm (local time).

The election is being monitored by a team from the Commonwealth.