The Solomon Islands Electoral Commission Office (SIECO) today signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MOA) with Our Telekom aimed at collaborating to enhance voter information accessibility.
Earlier today Chief Electoral Officer Mr Moses Saitala on behalf of SIECO signed the MOA with the Our Telekom’s Chief Executive Officer Mr Loyley Ngira at the Our Telekom Haus, Point Cruz.
The MOA facilitates the sending of mass SMS broadcasts to Our Telekom subscribers on important electoral matters.
The agreement also allows both parties to jointly develop and implement an interactive system that will be offered to voters early next year where people can enquire about their registration details.
This new initiative, using a free call number, is aimed at providing a high quality information service to registered voters, using up to date information, to let voters know where they are registered and exactly where they need to go and vote on polling day.
For example, a registered voter can simply dial a 3 digit number, and go to number of options provided, to check their registration details, polling station etc.
SIECO CEO Mr Saitala said this is a huge breakthrough in ensuring people easily access their voter registration details at the tip of their fingers wherever they are.
“Previously, people have to travel to polling stations to check the voter list for their names and polling stations.
“Pinning up of voter lists will still be maintained, but SIECO would like to make this information more accessible, apart from checking online,” he said.
He said with the increasing number of cell phone users even in the most remote areas throughout the Solomon Islands, it is only wise to engage existing platforms that are readily available to people.
Mr Saitala expressed appreciation to Our Telekom for facilitating the service and hopes this initiative alleviates the trouble registered voters experienced in the past in searching for information and their voter details.
Our Telekom’s Chief Executive Officer Mr Ngira expressed the same sentiments, and acknowledges the significance of the initiative.
“This initiative is necessary and will be very helpful to people,” he said.
Meanwhile, SIECO encourages electorates to continue to follow instructions being disseminated via mobile texts, in order to partake in the upcoming phases of the Voter Registration process.
