BY SAMIE WAIKORI
AUKI
THE distribution of ballot boxes for the provincial and national bye-elections for Ward 18 and the West Kwaio constituency has started on Friday.
Returning Officer for West Kwaio constituency bye-election, Pearson Simi said they are preparing for the bye-election.
“By today (Friday), we will be transporting ballot boxes and election kits to Bina for further distribution of the kits to polling stations next week.
“Similar distribution will also happen for ward 18 of East Kwaio constituency, and the team will leave Auki to East Kwaio tomorrow (Saturday) with election kits for the provincial bye-election,” he said.
Simi said the election team s also gearing up for other important trainings and activities ahead of the bye-election which is on Wednesday, this week.
Meanwhile, a team from the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) office in Honiara led by Chair of the Commission, Pattison Oti will be in Auki today.
Simi said upon arrival they will meet with the executive government of Malaita province and with representatives from stakeholders in the province on the SIEC reform.
He said members of the team will also take part in the bye-election and they are expected to be in the province until the election processes completes on Thursday.
Simi also said that ballot paper counting will be conducted in Auki after the polling on Wednesday, and hopefully results of the bye-elections should be known by Thursday.
