Western polling officials ready for tomorrow

By Mike Puia

Gizo

 

THIRTY-FOUR people from the Western Province are now ready to man the 12 polling stations within the Gizo/Kolombangara constituency.

Eligible voters in the constituency will go to the polls tomorrow to elect their new Member of Parliament.

The constituency has been without a MP since last November after the high court disqualified their MP.

Five people, including the wife of the former MP and the former Prime Minister, are contesting the seat.

22 polling officials and 12 presiding officers completed a one-day intensive training in Gizo yesterday.

The training covered voting aspects including procedures and processes and responsibilities as managers of polling stations.

These officials will head out to their assigned polling stations today in preparation for tomorrow’s polling day.

The training was conducted by the Returning Officer and Assistant Returning Officers who were briefed, on Sunday, by staff of the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC).

A separate briefing was also conducted for police officers in Gizo.

Eligible voters in the constituency have been reminded of the importance of their participation in the process of electing a Member of Parliament.

The by-election is the same as the 2014 National General Election, except, not all constituencies go to poll.

The 12 polling stations will open at 7am and closes 5pm. Voters are being urged to get to the polling station within this time.

Voters are required to tick only one box against the candidate of their choice.

Security will be tightened as police presence will be boosted with the deployment of additional police officers to the Western province.

Supporters of the contending candidates have been urged to maintain respect and peace and continue to observe election laws.

Discover more from Theislandsun

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading