Vanuatu gained independence on 30 July 1980 and adopted a Westminster style parliamentary political system. Since then, the country has organized parliamentary elections regularly using a mixture of Single Non-Transferable Vote system in multi-member constituencies and First-Past-the-Post system in single-member districts.

In response to an official request in 2016 from the Government of Vanuatu to the United Nations for assistance, UNDP launched the Vanuatu Electoral Environment Project (VEEP) with the project document signed in 2017. Phase I of VEEP ran from 2017 to 2020 with assistance primarily focused on preparations for the 2020 General Elections. Phase II was signed in December 2020 and runs from 2021 to 2024. More details in the Fast Facts.