Official Parliamentary Result Announcement – 18-04-2024 – 9am
April 16, 2024
SIEC Declared First Three Results
April 17, 2024
The Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) is aware of the inaccuracies and misinformation circulating on social media platforms and within our communities regarding the validity of ballot papers based on the color of the official mark.
The false information on social media state that if your ballot paper is officially marked with a blue or black ink pen, the ballot paper will be invalid. It was falsely claimed that the ballot paper must only be officially marked with a red ink pen.
We emphasize that this assertion is inaccurate and does not align with the electoral laws of the Solomon Islands.
Section 101(2) of the Electoral Act 2018 and regulation 57(2) of the Provincial Assemblies and Honiara City Council Election Regulations 2024 states that a ballot paper will be deemed invalid if it is without a vote or an official mark, or if it has any writing or mark that identifies the voter or if the ballot paper does not clearly shows the voter’s intention.
Section 101 of the Electoral Act 2018 outlines:
Invalid ballot papers
(1) Subject to subsection (2), a ballot paper is valid and must be counted if the voter’s intention is clear from the paper.
(2) The following ballot papers are invalid and must not be counted:
(a) a ballot paper without a vote or an official mark;
(b) a ballot paper with any writing or marking that may identify the elector who cast the ballot paper;
(c) a ballot paper that does not clearly show the voter’s intention.
Nowhere within these laws and regulations does it specify the color of the official mark.
Utilising a red pen for the official mark is simply a procedural measure aimed at facilitating administrative tasks associated with the election process. The use of red ink helps electoral officials in accounting for and verifying ballot papers more efficiently and in quickly identifying the initials or an official mark.
If he/she does not have a red pen or if the pen does not work, then the official will use another colour pen. It may be black or blue etc.
Note that the law on an invalid vote in regards to an official mark, only states that a vote is invalid if the ballot paper does not have an official mark.
An official mark can be of any colour, as long as it is the mark from an authorised official.
Voters are requested to simply ensure that the Ballot Paper Issuer has marked the ballot paper with an official mark or has put his/her initial in the official mark box at the bottom right-hand corner of the ballot paper.
It is also important for voters to understand that the validity of their ballot paper is not contingent upon the color of the official mark.
The SIEC remains committed to upholding the integrity and transparency of the electoral process in the Solomon Islands. We urge the public to rely on accurate information from official sources and refrain from spreading misinformation.
For further inquiries or clarifications, please contact the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission.
CALL our HOTLINES for more information:
7222200 8422220
