THE Solomon Islands Electoral Office (SIEO) has a lot on its plate for the remaining part of this year, it was revealed during a workshop in Auki this week.
With upcoming by-elections for Malaita Province, Honiara City Council, and Provincial elections for Western Province and Choiseul Province respectively, the remaining months of the year will be a busy time for SIEO.
According to the SIEO schedules for outstanding events for the remaining part of the year, the office is currently dealing with the by-election for Vavaea Honiara Ward of Honiara City for which nominations were opened since June this year.
The Vavaea by-election will take place on the 20th of this month.
The SIEO will also deal with the Malaita Province Ward 18 by-election and the West Kwaio Constituency by-election which are scheduled to happen at the same time in September this year.
The SIEO in August this year will also be dealing with Biometric Voters Registration (BVR) update in preparation for the Western and Choiseul Provincial elections which are expected to be held in December this year.
The SIEO will also facilitate the provincial elections for the two provinces in December.
If things happened as scheduled, the SIEO will carry out a nation-wide BVR in preparation for the 2023 National General Elections.
The only thing that will stop the SIEO from carrying out the nationwide BVR update is lack of budget allocations from the government and the Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement’s plan to extend the life of the current parliament from four to five years.
The proposed extension of parliament has come under heavy criticism from citizens, including houses of chiefs, constituents, church leaders, and the parliamentary opposition group.
By WILSON SAENI
Solomon Star, Auki
