Tandai Ward in the Guadalcanal Province will head to the polls in a by-election to elect a new Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) on Wednesday 13th November 2024.
Five candidates, four males and one female, have been nominated.
The contesting candidates are Mr. Universe Panda, Mr. Mato Mui, Mr. Desmond Iro, Mr. Henry Maenu, and Ms Melinda Kii.
Commissioner and Chief Electoral Officer Jasper Highwood Anisi urged the voters to arrive promptly at designated polling stations today at 7 am to cast their votes as early as possible.
“I urge all registered voters to make their way to their designated polling stations as early as possible.
“All polling stations will be closed at 4 pm today,” CEO Anisi added.
He further reminds the voters to make sure that their names are on the voters’ list before they can cast their ballot paper.
“All election-day procedures will be strictly applied to the general public and the eligible voters on polling day tomorrow,” CEO Anisi said.
He also stated that election observers will be observing the Tandai ward by-election to make sure that our election process is transparent and in accordance with the law.
He assured the general public, donor partners and voters that SIEC is committed to a well-organized and transparent election process.
Meanwhile, counting will commence at 10 am on 14th November 2024. It will continue until completion.
CEO Anisi added that counting may go into the early hours of 15th November should there be issues arising.
“Declarations will be made straight after the count, and results will be declared and gazetted as soon as practicable,” he further stated.
There will be 3 batches for the count, each batch consists of 4 polling stations.
The by-election became necessary following the death of the former MPA for Tandai Ward, the late Jerome Rava.
– SIEC