The Electoral Commission will begin a three day training program for Registration Officials on Wednesday 13 January, ahead of voter registration starting on 25 January.

Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Rt Hon Sir Peter Kenilorea, will open the training program with the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Fred Fakarii.

The three day training program brings together the 10 Registration Officers and 10 Revising Officers in charge of voter registration activities in the nine provinces and Honiara.

Chief Electoral Officer, Mr Polycarp Haununu, said the training program aims to explain the important roles and responsibilities for registration officials to register people as voters for the 2010 general national election.

"The registration of every woman and man who is 18 years of age or older as a voter is the first of the election process", Mr Haununu said.

"If people are not registered as a voter with one name and in one place only, then they will not be able to vote come Election Day."

The registration officers will be given the skills and equipment to go back to each province where they will commence training for over 700 assistant voter registration officials. These assistant voter registration officials will begin travelling house to house on 25 January to register people as a voter.