AFTER six months of waiting eligible voters of Choiseul and Western province will go to the polls this Wednesday to elect their new members of the provincial assembly (MPA).
The one day election will be held throughout the two provinces after weeks and months of preparation.
The election was supposed to be held on 14th June but was deferred for Wednesday 14th December 2022.
Acting Chief Electoral Officer and Commissioner Fredrick Bosoboe had earlier stated, there was an amended being made in accordance with provisions of the Provincial Government Act (PGA) which provides that elections can be deferred and held at a later date.
He said the matters regarding these provincial dissolutions are mandated matters for the Ministry of Provincial Government Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS) and respective provinces, and the Commission is to help support deliver these provincial elections.
Over the past months voter registrations have been conducted from August to October around the province.
This is to ensure all eligible voters are given the chance to be registered and vote (exercise their constitutional rights) in these provincial elections.
Following the final release of the names, intending candidates have also submitted their nominations to contest.
In the past week and in the remaining days of this week, many candidates have been on campaign trail around their respective wards.
To prepare for Wednesday’s polling, ballot papers were successfully delivered to the two provinces over the weekend.
A statement from the Solomon Island Electoral Office (SIE) said, all the ballot papers were delivered on Saturday via a chartered flight.
It was reported ballot papers were received by respective Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers at their various locations.
With the support of the UNDP/SECSIP project Airtaxi Services was engaged to deliver the ballot papers in a secured and timely manner to the provinces.
“Within approximately eight hours ballots were delivered to Taro, Gizo, Seghe and Munda.
Respective AROs upon receiving their ballot papers, polling kits and other electoral materials have began moving to their training locations to conduct poll workers training that will begin this week on Monday.
Meanwhile, intending candidates are now fighting against time to secure their votes by moving around to conduct their last minute campaigns.
However, the bad weather is not very helpful for some.
Many voters said, come Wednesday, they are prepared to cast their ballots.
By MOFFAT MAMU
Solomon Star, Gizo