The results of a Cook Islands by-election on the outer island of Mitiaro are up in the air due to a court appeal.
The by-election followed a tie in July between Tuakeu Tangatapoto of the Cook Islands Party and the island's previous Member of Parliament, the Democrat's Tangata Vavia.
The Chief Electoral Officer, Taggy Tangimetua, has told the Cook Islands News the vote counting and the declaration of the result have been deferred pending a court order.
She says an appeal lodged by The Cook Islands Party against a High Court decision regarding a petition filed by the Democratic Party for Mitiaro is still awaiting a verdict.
The court's decision is set to be announced next Monday.
