19th May appointed By-Election Date for South Choiseul Constituency

Voters from South Choiseul Constituency will now go to the poll to elect their Member of Parliament on 19^th May, 2021.

This was confirmed by signing of the Election date instrument by His Excellency, the Governor-General, Sir. David Vunagi, which was later published in the gazette today (yesterday)

Chief Electoral Officer, Mrs Jane Waetara said that By-Election Date legal instrument and its publication in the gazette initiates the 56 days election timeline lead up to Election Day.

Nomination of candidates will start from 24^th March till 7^th of April 2021. Candidates wishing to contest in the by-election are to see Returning Officer who is stationed at Malangono nomination center in South Choiseul Constituency to receive nominations.

South Choiseul Constituency parliamentary seat has left vacant for almost a year, since Hon. Robertson Galokale had lost the seat through a successful election petition launched against him following the 2019 National General Election.

The publication of the election date has opened the legal election campaign period which begins from the 23^rd March till midnight on the 17^th May, 2021.

“Mrs Waetara wants to remind voters, candidates and their supporters that, campaigning outside the legal campaign period is an election offense with a heavy penalty”, Mrs Waetara said.

She adds, “this by elections is a result of finding candidates not complying with election rules and so intending candidates must be aware of the election rules and offences, to conduct themselves and their supporters in accordance to the Electoral Act”.

Section 124 of the Electoral Act 2018 provides a maximum penalty of $20,000, or 2 years imprisonment or both for a candidate convicted of campaigning outside the campaign period.

There is no voter registration update for these by elections; therefore, all voters registered for the 2019 NGE will remain as approved by the Electoral Commission.

Solomon Islands Electoral Commission would like to call on voters from South Choiseul Constituency and interested public to check all available media outlets for more updates regarding the by-election.