The Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) has formalized arrangements for the opening of nomination centers in Honiara.
The decision to open nomination centres in Honiara was made due to the recent bad weather experienced in the country.
The intention to open the Centres was to facilitate nominations for intending candidates who are not able to travel to their respective constituencies due to the bad weather.
The nomination centres will open for the two remaining days of the nomination period which is Tuesday (Feb 19th) and Wednesday (Feb 20th). Nomination centres for all constituencies will open except Guadalcanal and the three Honiara constituencies.
For Guadalcanal, only South Guadalcanal Constituency has opened up its centre at the Guadalcanal Province Headquarter.
Other Guadalcanal constituencies have reported smooth executions of the process therefore need not to open up centres in Honiara.
All other constituencies throughout the country will have nomination centres open in Honiara at the Electoral Office for the two remaining days as well as in the constituencies.
For Temotu, Western, Makira and Chiuseul provinces, apart from the nomination centres that will open in Honiara, Assistant Returning Officers are also stationed in the provincial headquarters to receive nominations.
SIEC Chief Electoral Officer, Mr. Mose Saitala urges all intending candidates who are stranded in Honiara to utilise the Honiara nomination centres for the two remaining days.
The Commission has made the decision excercising its powers vested in section 59 (3) of the Electoral Act which states that the ‘Commission may declare a place outside the contituency to be a nomination place for the consituency, provided that there is also at least one nomination place in the consituency’.
“This extraordinary arrangement will enable stranded candidates in provinical headquarters and in Honiara to file and complete their nominatons before 20th February, which is the last day for submission of nomination application.,” Mr Saitala said.
He added that the nominators of a candidate will still have to be registered voters in the constituency and residing in that constituency. Candidates should ensure that their nominators are with them when they file their nomination or that arrangements are made for clear expression of consent of nominators nominating a candidate.
The Chief Electoral Officer call on all intentending candidates who are stranded in provincial headquarters and in Honiara to utulised the arrangements, which are taken to provide accessibility to all intending candidates.
This additional arrangements will esnure fair opportunity despite the bad weather and completion of nomination by the 20th February as stipulated in the Electoral Act.
Source: Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC)