WITH the provincial election coming up in December for Choiseul and Western Provinces, eligible voters are being urged to come forward to register and update their status.
That’s according to the Western Province (WP) Registration Manager, Patrick Toiraena.
The registration for the Biometric Voters Registration (BVR) was officially launched on Tuesday 2nd August.
He called on all the community and church leaders to help those who are eligible to come forward and register with the BVR team when they (team) visit their communities.
He added, not only that but to take responsibility and help the Electoral Commission to identify members of the communities who have passed on so that their names can be removed from the final list.
“Again, if anyone misses the team in your centre, follow them to the next centre or travel to Gizo and register.
“Household and family heads and community leaders must take the responsibility to assist those in the community and families to help get them register,” Toiraena said.
He added its important to work together with the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) and Provincial Election Administrators to help facilitate the registration process.
He advised all the youths who have turned 18 years to get registered so that they can be able to vote in the coming provincial election later this year and the next national general election.
He said, on the same on the note, he appeals to all registration teams and registration senior field officers who have been deployed into the constituencies to do their work with integrity, impartially and make sure provide equal opportunity for all eligible voters.
“These includes women, men, people with disabilities, elderly and other marginalized groupings within our societies regardless their social states in their communities to be able to register to vote.
“My concern is for Western Province to have a good quality and fair representatives for both provincial and national leaders and will continue to render our support to such process that facilitate good and quality leadership that freely chosen by the people,” Mr Toiraena said.
Already many of the registrations teams have been deployed to their identified centers to kick start the voter’s registration.
The team will also conduct a face to face awareness in the communities which followed by questioning if any individual voters need clarification on any information on voters registration exercise and general electoral related matter.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
