BY JOY OFASIA
THE Solomon Islands Electoral Commission Deputy Chief Electoral Officer has stated that 6240 election officials are required to work during the 2024 joint election in the country.
Christina Miniti, the Deputy Chief Electoral Officer of the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission, said that the advertisement for election officials is currently advertised.
“Under the recruitment of election officials, there will be a need for 1040 presiding officers, 2080 polling assistant voter verifier and ballot box guide, 1040 polling assistant ballot paper issuer, 1040 queue controller, and 1040 counting officers,” Christina said on Sunday during the joint election radio show on SIBC.
She said the Solomon Islands Electoral Office is seeking temporary polling officials for the 2024 Joint Election, requiring them to remain impartial and not actively support any candidate, ensuring a fair election process.
She added that all applicants who have experience, are confident, can work under pressure, and have a heart to serve the country with honesty, integrity, fairness, and to protect the secrecy of their votes to apply.
“If you know that you have experience, are confident, can work under pressure, and have a heart to serve the country with honesty, integrity, fairness, and protect the secrecy of our voting, we encourage you to apply,” she said.
The Deputy Chief Electoral Officer said the due date for applications is March 13, 2024. Applicants must apply to the polling stations that they have registered at so that it will be easy for them to cast their vote on that day.
She said application forms must be submitted to provincial election offices. For the 8 provinces, you are encouraged to drop off your applications at the provincial centers; for Guadalcanal province, you are to drop off your applications at the Rita 11 building at the Bahai Centre; and for Honiara City Council applicants, you can drop off your applications at the Honiara City Council.
The Deputy Chief Electoral Officer said that public officials are allowed to apply because they are the ones who will be needed to apply for the senior positions.
“I would like to call on all the ministries across the country to support the electoral commission to help complete the national exercise.
“Applicants must be fit to travel, fit to carry heavy loads and walk a distance of 4-5km or more, and they must be fit and able to climb mountains. For females, if it is going towards your trial semester, you will not be able to work,” she said.
