Polling Day for Vuhokesa ward by-election ended successfully

Returning Officer, Mr Fred Warereau said that polling went on smoothly with no disturbances to the voting process.

Mr Warereau said that all set up was done in time and all polling stations were opened and closed on time.

 “It was a quiet and peaceful day with a fair turned out. Voters turn up to cast their votes without influence”, Mr Warereau said. 

All covid-19 measures were well observed by voters with polling officials in full covid-19 protective gears executing a covid-19 compliance voting process. 

Counting of votes is expected to start as soon as all the ballot boxes arrives at Rove Police Club this evening.

Due to covid-19 compliance measure, we discourage crowding at the counting venues.

Then you Election Official and HCC by-Election Team and Electoral Commission Staff the logistic and support for making this a success polling day.

 

 

The Electoral Reform Taskforce will continue its consultation program with stakeholders in Makira province on the 23rd and 24th of May, 2022.

 The team leaves today Friday 20th May for Kirakira ahead of the program.

This would be their second of its series of consultation programs to seek peoples’ view on major reform areas that are in the Solomon Islands Electoral Reform Strategic Framework (2019-2023).

The team will present and discuss relevant section of Honiara City Council Election Act 1999, Provincial Government Act 1997 and Electoral Act 2018 on areas where these laws can be synchronized for a possibility for combine election.

Combine elections will allow voters to go to the poll casting two votes at the same time to elect their Parliament Member and Provincial Assemblies Member or Honiara City Council Councilors on a day election. 

It is also aim at discussing proposed amendments to some sections in the Electoral Act 2018 to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of election services in future elections.

At the moment, each level of election conducts its election under different law hence, each has different timeline and polling day.

It’s always been a two sides argument to these proposed amendments and it is up to the people to give their view on both arguments.

Election is a process that provides the opportunity for citizens’ say in the development Policies of this country through elected leadership and hence it is a must and crucial action that people are consulted and be part of this law-making process.

Representatives from stakeholders within Makira Province are urged to present and give their views on these major reforms.

Stakeholders expected to attend the consultation includes representatives from provincial assembly members, provincial officers, civil society groups, village chiefs and community elders, churches, women groups, people with disabilities, youths and other recognized groups and business house within the province.

The first consultation program was held earlier this year with stakeholders from Central Islands Province.

The Office of the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission in its preparation towards the By-Election for Vuhokesa Ward, Honiara City Council is seeking to recruit temporary Election polling officials to work as Presiding officers, Polling Assistants and Queue controllers:

Positions:

   4 x Presiding Officer

   8 Polling Assistants

   8 x Queue controllers

Qualification/Experience/Skills & Other Requirements

  • Secondary School Leave Certificate or Tertiary qualification in any relevant field
  • Have past experience in electoral work
  • Excellent inter personal and communication skills
  • Ability to understand and comply with the Electoral Act and approved policy
  • Good knowledge of the Constituency/local community of application
  • Physically and medically fit to work under pressure and able to wear PPEs if Covid19 case in Solomon Islands
  • Must be neutral – no political affiliations with candidates or political groupings of any kind.
  • Applicants must be fully vaccinated.

Details on the duties of the position can be obtained from the Solomon Islands Electoral Office, Vavaya ridge or see provided link below.  The closing date for applications, 19th May 2022.

 

All applications to be addressed to;

 

The Corporate Service Manager,

 Solomon Islands Electoral Office,

PO. Box, 1500, Honiara.

 

Please hand delivered applications to the Solomon Islands Electoral Office, Vavaya Ridge.

For all queries about the application process or the positions please contact SIEC Cooperate

Service Unit.

Name: David Tony Vatran or Joy Manu

 

Phone: 21198 or email; DTony@siec.gov.sb or JManu@siec.gov.sb

 

The Office of the Electoral Commission upholds the requirement of Equal Employment Opportunity therefore Both men and women are encouraged to apply.

files/docs/ElectoralApplicationForm.doc

files/docs/PresidingOfficerjob-description-.pdf

files/docs/PollingAssistant-job-description-.pdf

files/docs/Queue-Controller-job-description-.pdf

Mrs. Jane Waetara

Chief Electoral Officer had tendered an early resignation as Chief Electoral Officer and Commissioner for the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission.

Her official resignation came into effect on Wednesday 13th April, 2022 and steps to fill the vacant post of the chief electoral officer has been taken and in progress.

Mrs. Jane Waetara was formally appointed as Chief Electoral Officer in August 2020 until her resignation early this month, a period of almost 20 months of service for the Commission.

A​​​​lthough Mrs. Waetara served for the shortest time span in comparative to past holders of the CEO post, her strong leadership and achievement immensely felt and impacted the work of SIEC in all aspect.

Mrs. Waetara was the first female Chief Electoral Officer in Solomon Islands.

SIEC would like to thank Mrs. Jane Waetara for her service to the commission and at the same time wish her well in her future endeavors.

 

Solomon Islands Electoral commission acknowledges West Kwaio constituents’ concern over the delay of West Kwaio constituency by-election.

The Solomon Islands Electoral Commission confirms that West Kwaio by-election is one of the outstanding electoral activities for this year, 2022.

Plans to hold the West Kwaio by-election has been in-placed last year and Electoral Office has ever since prepared, however factors affecting the delay has beyond Commission’s control.

The budget implications brought by this pandemic covid-19 across all sectors has sheared electoral budgets from the government even further.

Funding and budget cuts were some off the setback to implementations of these plans.

Amongst these outstanding electoral events, are voter registration update for Choiseul and Western provinces and their subsequent provincial assemblies’ elections.

At the moment, the Electoral Commission is implementing HCC Vuhokesa ward by-election, in Central Honiara Constituency with shared cost from Council funds. 

Electoral commission has its own activity calendar within its 4-year electoral cycle of which activities are being planned and budgeted for accordingly.

Voters from Vuhokesa ward in the Honiara City Council will go to the poll to vote for a new councilor on the 25th of May 2022.

Minister for Home Affairs Hon. Chris Laore, has published the Election notice in a Gazette yesterday, 19th April, 2022.

Appointed Returning Officer for the by- election Mr. Fred Warereau said that according to HCC Election law, this publication commences the 35 days by- election timeline from the open of nomination to Polling day.

Mr. Warereau said that the 7 days nomination period opens tomorrow Wednesday 20th and will close 4pm on Wednesday 27th April, 2022.

Intending candidates who want to contest this councilor’s by-election seat are invited to enquire with the assistant returning officer for the by-election, Mr. Vincent Kohata, to do their nomination.

To adhere to our covid-19 health measures, all enquiries be done via calling the assistant returning officer and to make appointments before calling in at our nomination center to make your nomination. Our enquiry lines are 7203010​​​​​​

The Nomination center is at the HCC Election Office, National Library.