SIEO CEO calls for submission of Expense reports

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HONIARA – Candidates who contested the 2024 Joint Elections are strongly advised to submit their campaign related expense reports in accordance with the Electoral Act and the Provincial Assemblies and Honiara City Council Electoral regulations 2024.

SIEC Chief Electoral Officer and Commissioner Jasper Highwood Anisi advised that disclosure of election campaign-related expenses is a legal requirement for candidates contesting the Parliament, Provincial Assembly and Honiara City Council elections.

“Section 69 of the Electoral Act 2018 and Regulations 52 & 53 of the Provincial Assemblies and Honiara City Council Election Regulation 2024 require all candidates contesting in the Parliamentary, Provincial Assembly and Honiara City Council elections to submit their election campaign-related expenses within 90 days,” Mr Highwood Anisi stated.

The 90 days lapse on July 29^th 2024, counting from the date after the results of the Joint Election were published in the gazette.

The SIEC CEO said all candidates contesting the Joint Election must submit their accounts of election campaign expenses including funding sources and amounts received.

“This applies to all winning and losing candidates who contested the Parliamentary, Provincial Assembly and Honiara City Council seats.”

Mr. Anisi further highlighted that failure to comply with that legal requirement, by July 29^th is non-compliance and an election offense which carries a maximum penalty of $20,000 fine or 2 years imprisonment, or both.

An additional fine of $100 unit is charged for non-compliance each day a candidate fails to submit his/her campaign expenses after the 90-day period.

The CEO said to avoid paying an accumulation fine of $100 unit each day you fail to submit, candidates are encouraged to submit within the legal time-frame.

The election campaign expense accounts are to be submitted on a prescribed approved form that can be collected from the Solomon Islands Electoral Office either in hard or soft copy or can also be downloaded online from Electoral Commission Official Website, www.siec.gov.sb

Two forms are to be used to submit these expenses.  One is for the submission of all the expenses and the other is a declaration form certifying the integrity of the expense report.

Meanwhile, the Chief Electoral Officer further advised that the 30-day period for filing of election petitions has also commenced on April 30^th and ends May 30^th 2024.

“In accordance with Section 108(3) of the Electoral Act 2018 and regulation 85(3) of the Provincial Assemblies and Honiara City Council Election Regulations 2024, a petition must be filed within 30 days from the date of the publication of the result in the gazette.”

As such, deadline for filing of election petitions end on May 30^th 2024, and in accordance with the law, be dealt with by the court within 12 months after the date of filing.

Mr Highwood Anisi meanwhile expressed gratitude to all stakeholders including donors, the RSIPF, media, observers, candidates and electors for partaking in the Joint Election which was completed peacefully.

For more information, follow SIEC’s Facebook @SIelectoralcommission page and website on www.siec.gov.sb Or for general inquiries, you can call the office hotline phone # 7222200 or landline # 21198.