A former Vanuatu prime minister, Barak Sope, is the initial frontrunner in the contest to become the country's new president.
13 people are vying for the post which is being decided by an electoral college made up of the 52 MPs and six provincial governors.
Mr Sope, whose period as prime minister was marked by controversy, got the most votes in the first round of voting this morning, but he was a long way from the required two thirds to be made the new head of state.
Another round of voting is due this afternoon.
