ALL SET: SI goes to polls tomorrow Wednesday 17th April

Solomon Islands goes to the polls tomorrow in the first ever delayed election since independence and an historic one as well– as voters will also be electing their national, provincial and the Honiara city leaders.

The much anticipated election is taking place seven months later after the parliament amended the constitution primarily to allow for the hosting of the 17th Pacific Games in Honiara last December. There were heated public debates against the extension but the former government stood firm and voted for the amendment to the constitution to delay the election. And though there was a legal challenge against the extension, the court ruled in favour of the amendment.

The National General Election was held every four years, in what was described as a cycle except for the one happening tomorrow.

In addition to the election of 50 parliamentarians, voters will also be choosing their new members of the provincial assemblies and councillors for Honiara City. All the provinces except for Choiseul and Western will not take part in the electing of their new MPAs’ as they only voted their leaders late last year. They will instead join the next cycle of election. It is the first time that joint elections will be held.

So who is contesting?

A total of 334 candidates are contesting the fifty (50) constituencies for the parliamentary elections in the 2024 Joint Election. This is a single increase of one candidate, compared to the 2019 National General Election (NGE) which had a total of 333 candidates.

Out of the 334 parliamentary candidates, 20 (or 5.98%) of them are females. In 2019, 26 females (or 7.83%) contested in the NGE.

For the candidates contesting the provincial and HCC wards, with the exclusion of Duidui Ward, South Guadalcanal, there are a total of 905 candidates. Seven candidates were originally nominated for Duidui Ward.

The final number of political parties contesting the election stands at 13, with the total males registered under political parties for National Parliament at 291.

Total Males for Provincial Assemblies/HCC is 25. And 17 females for National Parliament whilst four for Provincial Assemblies/HCC.

Key issues

The parties have highlighted multiple issues, ranging from the economy, the high rate of unemployment, education, poor infrastructure (especially roads) to the country’s relationship with China.

In the campaign trail, the question of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) was heavily discussed and was the topic of contention. Many voters would like to see more transparency in the dishing out of the Funds, some even demanded that it be removed from politicians.

We are ready says CEO

On the eve of Election Day for the historic Joint Election, the Chief Electoral Officer and Commissioner Jasper Highwood Anisi today said that electoral officials have been deployed and are eager to do their duties from tomorrow at all polling stations.

“We are in a state of readiness and our officials will try their best to ensure that every voter that turns up at the polling station between the voting hours of 7am-4pm, is facilitated and is able to exercise his or her constitutional right to vote,” said Mr Highwood Anisi.

Some 6700 electoral officials have been deployed throughout the country for the poll and count of the 2024 Joint Election.

The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and Commissioner Jasper Highwood Anisi is urging eligible voters throughout the country to turn up early to cast their ballots at their respective polling stations on Election Day tomorrow, Wednesday, April 17.

The polling stations will open at 7:00 am and close at 4:00 pm.

If a voter is in the queue by 4pm, he or she will be allowed to vote.

“However, I would like to encourage all the eligible voters through the Solomon Islands to be on time and cast their votes before 4 pm,” he said.

It is anticipated that there will be queues in some of the polling stations, also the weather will be another factor that delays the movement of the voters.

“So, voters should use the first part of the morning to turn up early and cast their vote,” he said.