HONIARA, Solomon Islands – ALL Eleven Candidates contesting next month’s by-elections for West Guadalcanal Constituency and Paripao Ward have been reminded to observe all election rules and regulations whilst out on their campaign trails throughout this month of May and onwards to Election Day scheduled for June 4.
Of the 11 contesting candidates, six are vying for the vacant West Guadalcanal Constituency Parliamentary seat, whilst five will be contesting the vacant Paripao Ward (Northeast Guadalcanal) Provincial Assembly seat.
The Election Manager Joseph Sua explained that in accordance to the Electoral Act 2018, the campaign period begins on the date of publication of the Election Date, and ends 24 hours before Election Day.
“We are currently in the candidate campaign period and would therefore like to remind candidates and their supporters that all election rules and regulations apply in accordance with the Electoral Act 2018. All campaign activities are to be done within the requirements and regulations as stated in the Act. We urge candidates to observe and abide by the Electoral Act during their campaign trails leading up to Election Day”, Mr. Sua stated.
The Solomon Islands Electoral Office (SIEO) noted the following requirements and more as instructed in the Electoral Act 2018, for contesting candidates to observe.
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SECTION 69: CAMPAIGN EXPENSES
- Within 90 days after the publication of an election result under section 107, a candidate in the election must submit to the CEO a statement of account specifying:
- All expenses incurred by the candidate in relation to the candidate’s campaign for election; and
- The source of all funds (including the amount received from each source) used to meet those expenses.
- The regulations may make provision for the preparation and content of the statement of account.
SECTION 124: ENGAGING IN CAMPAIGN ACTIVITY OUTSIDE CAMPAIGN PERIOD
A person who engages in a campaign activity in relation to an election outside the campaign period for the election commits an offense.
Maximum Penalty:
20,000 penalty units or imprisonment for 2 years, or both
SECTION 125: CAMPAIGN EXPENSES AND DONATIONS
- A candidate whose election campaign expenses exceed $500,000 commits an offense.
Maximum Penalty:
50,000 penalty units or imprisonment for 5 years, or both
- A candidate who fails to comply with the requirements of section 69 commits an offence.
Maximum Penalty:
- 20,000 penalty units or 2 years imprisonment, or both: and
- 100 penalty units for each day the offence continues.
- A candidate commits an offence if the candidate accepts a campaign donation from:
- A person who is not a citizen of Solomon Islands; or
- A company with at least one shareholder who is not a citizen of Solomon Islands.
Maximum Penalty:
50,000 penalty units or 5 years imprisonment, or both.
- In this section, “campaign donation” means any transfer of property made, otherwise than by will, without consideration or with inadequate consideration that is intended to be used, or is used, solely or substantially for a purpose related to an election.
SECTION 126: ELECTION BRIBERY
- A person commits an offence if:
- The person directly or indirectly promises, offers or gives a benefit to another person; and
- The person does so with the intention of influencing the other person to:
- Vote or refrain from voting at an election; or
- Vote in a particular way at an election; or
- Influence a third person to vote, refrain from voting or vote in a particular way at an election
Maximum Penalty:
150,000 penalty units or imprisonment for 15 years, or both
- Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to a declaration of policy or a promise of action by a candidate as a campaign activity.
- A person commits an offence if:
- The person directly or indirectly solicits, accepts or receives a benefit for himself or herself, or another person; and
- The person does so with the intention that he or she will be influenced to:
- Vote or refrain from voting at an election; or
- Vote in a particular way at an election; or
- Influence a third person to vote, refrain from voting or vote in a particular way at an election
Maximum penalty:
150,000 penalty units or imprisonment for 15 years, or both
- A person commits an offence if the person gives another person money or any other item with the intention that the money or item be used as a benefit in the commission of an offence under subsection (1).
Maximum penalty:
150 penalty units or imprisonment for 15 years, or both
- It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence against subsection (1) or (3) if the defendant proves that the defendant promised, offered, gave, solicited, accepted or received the benefit:
- In accordance with custom; and
- Openly, in the course of a traditional exchange of gifts; and
- For the benefit of a community or group of people and not for an individual
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The Electoral Commission is supported by the UNDP’s SECSIP (Strengthening the Electoral Cycle in the Solomon Islands Project), collaboratively funded by the Australian Government, the European Union and UNDP.
