359,690 voters registered for Solomon Islands election

More than 359,000 people have registered to vote in this year’s national election in Solomon Islands.

That’s according to chief electoral officer Mose Saitala, while releasing the final voter list on Wednesday.

“Overall the list of electors has increased from 287,567 voters in 2014 to 359,690 in 2019,” Saitala told reporters.

“That is an increase of 72,123 voters in the four and half years between the first time the list was created in 2014 and the final list we now have in 2019,” he added.

“Based on the data, two of the three Honiara constituencies have the highest number of voters on the final list, with Central Honiara on 15,987, and East Honiara with 15,446.”

Saitala said eight constituencies have 10,000 or more registered voters.

He added the highest increase from 2014 to 2019 is West Honiara, with 85.58 per cent, increasing by 4,908, from 5,735 to 10,643.

“Two constituencies have decreased in numbers.

South New Georgia/Rendova decreased by 376 voters (-8.09%), while Small Malaita by 472 voters (-5.54%).

“These decreases are due to population shifts and cross border registrations,” Saitala explained.

He said in terms of gender registrants, 174,587 registered voters are female (48.54%); while 185,103 are male (51.46%).

Saitala said the final list will be published across the country in coming days, as well as uploaded on the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission’s website (www.siec.gov.sb).

“By way of pursuant to Section 50 of the Electoral Act, it may also allow political parties and candidates to have access to an ‘Extract Copy’ of the Voters’ List upon payment of a fee as prescribed by Regulation,” Saitala added.

He said the Biometric Voter Registration process has been long and onerous and being able to get to this point of the process on time, despite the many challenges along the way, is a testament to the hard work and perseverance of all electoral officials in the field and at the Electoral Office.

SOURCE: SOLOMON STAR/PACNEWS