A call has been issued by the Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) on the Solomon Islands Government to make it illegal for anyone to buy or collect voter registration cards.
Last week, TSI’s Advocacy Legal Advice Centre (ALAC) received a report that an intending candidate from a Honiara constituency is not only buying voters ID cards, but issuing his own cards as a replacement.
“The client reported that he went to seek assistance from the intending candidate and was told to bring along his voter ID card,” TSI Executive Officer, Daniel Fenua said.
“He presented his card and the intending candidate gave him some money and a ‘supporters’ card. The client was informed that he was now part of the team.”
“He was advised to present the new card if the candidate becomes an MP to qualify for assistance.”
The client was also told that his voter ID card will not be returned until days before the National Election.
TSI believes that there have been more than two thousand supporter cards issued by this intending candidate.
“Whether or not the buying of voter ID cards is an act of bribery is a question that needs to be answered,” Mr Fenua said.
“It’s unclear if there is a specific law against card buying because the new regulations governing the Biometric Voter Registration system are not publicly available.”
However, it is an offence to give person money to persuade them to vote.
“The real concern here is that voters will be offered financial incentives to vote for a particular candidate when they go back to collect their ID card before election day,” Mr Fenua said.
TSI supports the call made by Member of Parliament for East Choiseul, Hon. Manasseh Sogavare that the Electoral Act should be amended to make it illegal to collect voter registration cards.
“Persons entitled to vote must be free to vote for any candidate they choose without undue influence or coercion of any kind that may influence the free expression of their will,” Mr Fenua said.
“We would also like to remind current members and intending candidates that all MP’s have a duty to represent every single person in their constituency, not just the people who supported their campaign.”
TSI also understands that during election day voters can actually cast their votes without using ID cards.
In this case, intending candidates should question the usefulness of buying voter ID cards as it seems to be a waste of time and money. It may also be unlawful.
“It is important for voters to understand that the preferred way is that you have your ID card with you during election day and only those who misplaced cards may verify with the computer system before vote,” Mr Fenua said.
TSI’s Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre wants to hear from anyone who has sold their ID card, been asked to sell their ID card or been issued a ‘supporters card’. All reports will be treated as strictly confidential. Come and see us at our office, Room 226 in the Hyundai Mall, call us on 20391 or find us on facebook.
