The political system is based on personal alliances and loyalties derived from clan and family connections.
[3][4][5] The state of emergency created by Cyclone Pam resulted in the election being delayed twice.
[7] The constituencies of Niutao and Nui had contested ballots, including former members of parliament as candidates.
On 5 October 2016 Chief Justice Sweeney of the High Court of Tuvalu declared that Ielemia's parliamentary seat was vacant as he was no longer qualified to be a member of parliament, as the consequence of the short time the opposition MP served time in jail following his conviction on 6 May 2016 in the Magistrate's Court of charges of abuse of office during the final year of his term as Prime Minister (August 2006 to September 2010).
A by-election was held on 20 November 2018, with Simon Kofe, a former senior magistrate, being elected.