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THE nomination period for the intending candidates for the upcoming National General Election will close on October 22nd.
The announcement was clarified during a question and answer session with the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Polycarp Haununu during a press conference.
Haununu said intending candidates have until the 22nd of this month to submit their nomination forms and not 14th October as was previously said.
He said after the close of nominations on the October 22nd, intending candidates have until 25 October to withdraw their candidacy.
“Intending candidates have until 22nd October to deliver their nomination forms to their returning Officers. Any late forms will not be accepted,” Haununu said.
He said list of confirmed candidates to contest the election will be put up by Returning Officers (ROs) on the 24th of October.
He stressed that the $2,000 fee paid with the nomination forms is non-refundable and want to make it clear to all intending candidates.
Adding eligible candidates must be a citizen of the country and be aged 21 years and over and must be nominated by three eligible nominators who are registered as a voter in the same constituency the candidate wish to contest.
Haununu stressed that people cannot contest as a candidate if they are,
-Under prison sentence for six months or more;
-hold a position with the public service at the time of nomination;
-employed as a teacher, nurse, provincial government officer or any other government employment.
“Candidates who are contesting under parties will have to meet the parties’ candidacy requirements before they can be successfully nominated,” Haununu added.
Solomon Star has witnessed more than sixty intending candidates rushing to the Electoral Commission to collect themselves nomination forms yesterday.
A total of 287,567 eligible electors have been confirmed in the final list who can go to the polls on November 19th to cast their ballots.
By DANIEL NAMOSUAIA
