Today is Election Day, and polls are open across the Solomon Islands starting at 7am and closing at 5pm.
Voters in Honiara voted quite early this morning, the same went for several polling stations in Auki, Munda and parts of Isabel. Polling agents have reported that all arrangements have gone according to plan, and all polls have been trouble free so far.
Solomon Islands Chief Electoral Officer, Polycarp Haununu said in a prepared statement that he is very confident the election will run smoothly.
Police Commissioner Mr Frank Prendergast says that this is an extremely important election for the country and that “the RSIPF is committed to ensuring that everyone gets to vote freely and fairly. And we are also committed to ensuring that the process occurs peacefully.”
Twelve registered political parties will be vying to form government, early assessments suggests that the three stronger parties are the united Democratic Party, the Solomon Islands People First Party and People’s Alliance Party.
Independents will have a strong showing with more than half of the registered candidates contesting as independents.
All counting will be done at Provincial Headquarters with results expected to come in starting tomorrow morning.