MALAITA Province is seeing a big number of Malaitans living in Honiara back in the province since last week for the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) which started yesterday.
Reports have it that some of registrants who have a busy schedule and want to get their registration done as soon as possible were the first to register early yesterday.
The registration started will end on Friday 29 September.
This means anyone who wishes to vote in his or her home constituency in Malaita must travel to the constituency’s registration centre to register.
The Chief Electoral Officer Jasper Highwood Anisi has called on eligible registrants who wish to vote in the coming 2024 National General (NGE) to look out for registration teams in their constituency and turn up at their respective Voter Registration Centre (VRC) to get registered.
Mr Anisi said it is very important to get registered as it gives one the right to vote in elections.
“You don’t register, you can’t vote,” Mr Anisi emphasised.
Mr Anisi reminded everyone about the registration eligibility criteria.
“To register you must be 18 years old, a citizen of the Solomon Islands and an ordinarily resident of the constituency you wish to register in.
“In addition to the above eligibility criteria, the Electoral Act 2018 also provides for pre-registration for those who have and will be turning 17 years old during the time of registration”, Mr Anisi said.
Mr Anisi explained that 17-year-olds who are registered will remain on the provisional voter list until their 18th birthday when they will automatically be included to the master voting list.
“This is only a voter registration update, hence only those who need to register new and as those who want to update their voter details can do so within the period from 4 to 29 September 2023,” he added.
The Solomon Islands Electoral Commission, meanwhile, calls on parents, guardians, and community leaders to assist first-timers and people with disabilities who are eligible to be registered to get to the registration centre to register.
By SOLOMON LOFANA
Solomon Star, Auki
