ROUGH seas during the dispatchment of ballot boxes to the North New Georgia Constituency in Western Province on Tuesday has damaged one of the ballot boxes.
This was revealed by the Western Province Election Manager Collin Potakana yesterday before Gizo 2 Polling Station opened to voters to cast their votes.
He said a ballot box which was supposed to be used during Wednesday’s election was damaged.
Mr Potakana said the damage occurred during the transportation of ballot boxes by boat to the constituency due to rough seas and that it was discovered upon arrival.
The Electoral Officials deployed to the constituency reported the matter to the Gizo-based Election Manager and a replacement ballot box was sent.
Thus, Potakana said the ballot box which was sent to North New Georgia to replace the damaged ballot box was supposed to be used at Gizo 2 Polling Station.
However, the situation warranted that it be despatched immediately to the North New Georgia Constituency.
Mr Potakana said due to limited time, a spare ballot box used in a previous election that found in the Western Provincial Government Office was given to Gizo 2 Polling Station.
Gizo 2 Polling Station is located at Women’s Resource Centre in Gizo. Prior to the opening of the Polling Center, observers, polling officials and voters witnessed a brief ceremony where the old ballot box was opened for everyone to witness that it contained nothing before being sealed for use.
Mr Potakana said a legal instrument authorizing the use of the old ballot box has been issued by the Electoral Office in Honiara.
A similar situation reportedly happened in Temotu Province where the ballot box received incurred a during transportation by boat.
The election officials were forced to use Sellotape to seal the crack and use the ballot box.
BY MOFFAT MAMU
