Nauruans went to the polls on Saturday, 11 october 2025, for a pivotal general election that saw incumbent president David Adeang re-elected to his parliamentary seat, though the nation’s leadership remains undecided pending a parliamentary vote. In a significant concurrent decision, voters rejected a constitutional referendum that proposed extending parliamentary terms from three to four years.

The election contested all 19 seats in the Parliament of Nauru, with results indicating a major shift in the political landscape could be forthcoming. While president Adeang successfully defended his position as a member of parliament, his continuation as the nation's president is not guaranteed. The newly elected members of parliament must now convene to select a president from among their ranks, a process that will depend heavily on the formation of informal alliances.

Alongside the parliamentary vote, a constitutional referendum was held to decide on extending the length of a parliamentary term. The proposal was defeated, with 55.33% of voters opting to maintain the current three-year cycle. This outcome ensures that Nauru will continue to hold general elections every three years, preserving the existing political framework.

Nauru's political system is unique in that it has no formal political parties, with all candidates running for office as independents. Elections are conducted across eight multi-member constituencies using the Dowdall system, a form of ranked-choice voting where voters rank candidates by preference.

As the nation awaits the official release of the full election results, the final composition of the 19-member parliament remains unconfirmed. The focus now shifts to the background negotiations and coalition-building that will determine the next government and who will lead it as president.

The Nauru Electoral Commission facilitated the voting process, including offering mobile voting options to allow citizens to cast their ballots from home if needed.