Slow start - 'Counting after verification' in Solomon Islands, election chief says

The counting process for the Solomon Islands' joint election is only just getting underway as the retrieval of ballot boxes from polling stations all across the country continues.

Electoral officials, local police and regional personnel providing logistic support worked through the night to ensure some tallying could start on Thursday for constituencies closest to central counting locations.

In the first post-election update on Thursday morning, electoral chief Jasper Anisi said the public will notice a heavy police presence at counting centres across the country.

Watch RNZ Pacific Editor Koroi Hawkins' interview below.

Anisi is urging Solomon Islanders to remain peaceful and remain calm to maintain good order around the counting stations.

"All counting will be done after verification is done at the polling stations," he added.

How counting will work

The electoral commission has indicated that provincial votes will be tallied before the national ballots.

But what does this mean?

The key is the verification process, a prerequisite for counting to be able to start in the Solomon Islands elections.

This process is being done simultaneously for both provincial and national ballot boxes.

At the national level, all ballot boxes in the entire constituency have to be verified before counting can begin.

But because in the provincial election, the constituency (again a single electorate at the national level) is further divided up into smaller wards (each contested separately), counting can start as soon as all of the ballot boxes for any particular ward have been completed.

Counting in the national election cannot start until all the verification of ballot boxes for the entire constituency (i.e. all of the wards) has been completed.

The single constituency is divided into wards which are mini-elections

When can we expect results

At the close of polling yesterday a handful of provincial election candidates who stood unopposed were the first winners to be declared in the joint election.

Counting is underway in the Solomon Islands joint provincial and national elections. Photo/SIEC

Provincial results will start to trickle in steadily as counting gets underway in more centres across the country.

The electoral commission will be announcing provincial results three times a day at 10am, 3pm and 10pm local time.

National results will be announced in real time.

The first national MPs to be announced will come from the Western and Choiseul Provinces as they had already conducted their provincial elections last year.

RNZ Pacific understands this means the fate of former prime minister Manasseh Sogavare who is contesting the East Choiseul Constituency will be known later tonight or early tomorrow.

'Keep the peace wantoks' - police

The Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) has commended the public for a peaceful polling day.

Commissioner Mostyn Mangau said it has been good to see people move freely while casting their votes for their preferred leader to represent them in Honiara City Council, provincial government, and the National Parliament.

He urges supporters to respect the counting process and respect whatever the results may be.

"I emphasise that we keep the peace and respect our fellow wantoks," said Commissioner Mangau.

He said RSIPF will provide a heavy police presence in all counting venues around the country.

"I appeal to you, my good law-abiding citizens, to do the right thing and respect the process, and accept the outcomes of the results."