NOMINATION of candidates to fill the vacant Parliamentary seat of East Makira Constituency commences as of Tuesday this week.
The Solomon Islands Electoral commission (SIEC) office confirmed this in a statement following the proclamation of the By-Election date by the Acting Governor General Patteson Oti on the14th, the day before.
It was confirmed that the East Makira by-election date is December 11, which is also the date for the province’s assembly election.
“This means East Makira voters will vote for both the National and Provincial leaders on the same day,” it was further explained.
Chief Electoral Officer Mose Saitala earlier told the paper the Ministry of Finance & Treasury has already assured him that funds for the by-election should be ready by this month.
Saitala said as so as the funds are ready, the Electoral office will begin the countdown to that date of election.
He said old candidates are welcomed to contest the East Makira Parliamentary seat as well as new interested candidates as long as they are registered voters in that constituency.
The Solomon Islands Electoral Commission is trialling the ‘One Day’ election system which is expected to be adopted in future elections.
“This means voters will in the future vote for both their National and Provincial leaders in one Election Day,” it was stated.
The Nomination Centre for East Makira Constituency is Namunga.
By IAN M.KAUKUI
