Chief Electoral Officer, Mr Polycarp Haununu, today confirmed that government funds required for paying registration officials had reached the account of the Electoral Commission.
"This afternoon funds were received from government to continue current registration fieldwork," Mr Haununu said."These funds will now be transferred to each province for payment of registration officials and other logistics required to conduct fieldwork."
Since last week, registration officials who have completed their training have been seen visiting houses in their bright orange coloured t-shirts. The first 60 days of registration involves officials going house to house to remove names from the old 2006 list where that person had died or moved away, and register new voters.
Mr Haununu assured both registration officials and the public that the Electoral Commission was working hard to keep to the registration timetable. "Registration officials have been trained and have been given their materials," Mr Haununu said.
"Some provinces and Honiara have already been visited by our registration officials to post notices and information about registration and begin registering voters."
"I congratulate these registration officials who have shown a full commitment to the call to make a better voters' list for Election Day."
"We must make sure that the process runs smoothly so that every Solomon Islander 18 years or older can be registered with one name and in one place so that they can vote one time only on Election Day."
The Chairman of the Solomon Island Electoral Commission, Rt. Hon. Sir Peter Kenilorea, had earlier called on voter registration officials to make sure that everyone who is 18 and older is registered to vote, and that those who have left the country, or died, be removed from the voter's list.
"I call on you to do your best to reach every part of the country to ensure the transparency and integrity of the final voters' list," Sir Peter said.
Voter registration is the important first part of elections where a list is made of people who can vote in the upcoming election and takes off the names of people who no longer reside in that area or have died.
The Chief Electoral Officer thanked registration officials for their patience in receiving their first payment and urged them to play their part so that people are registered for the coming national general election.