Organisation : Solomon Islands Electoral Commission
Announcement : BVR System Biometric Voter Registration System
Country : Solomon Islands
Website : https://siec.gov.sb/
SIEC BVR System
** The Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) system is currently being implemented by the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission.
Related : Frequently Asked Questions Solomon Islands Electoral Commission : www.electionin.org/821.html
** The BVR system prevents multiple registration by collecting digital photographs and thumb prints of everyone on the Electoral Roll.
** Under the new system, all registered voters are issued a photo ID card. The process will result in the production of a new voters’ register to replace the existing one.
Why Biometric Voter Registration?
The old method of registering voters did not have an inbuilt mechanism for detecting multiple registrations and it was difficult to clean the register.
The biometric technology will detect multiple registrations and make it easier to remove them from the system. With this a more accurate and credible register is being produced for the upcoming election.
Implications of Replacement of existing Voter registration :
The upcoming registration exercise will result in the compilation of an entirely new voters’ list that will replace the existing voter register. Every eligible voter who wishes to vote in 2014 National General Election must be registered anew
Voting System
There is only one electoral system that is used in the Solomon Islands, the First Past The Post (FPTP) system. This is also referred to as the “winner takes all” electoral system. It is used in the election of members of National Parliament and Provincial Assembly members.
If two or more candidate receive an equal number of votes, and the addition of one vote would entitle any of the candidates to be declared elected, the Returning Officers must undertake a recount.
If after the completion of a recount there is still an equal number of votes, the Returning Officer must report the fact to the Governor-General who will order that another election be held for that electoral constituency on such day as the Governor-General determines.
National Parliament :
The National Parliament of Solomon Islands consists of 50 members, one from each constituency, elected to serve a four (4) year term.
Role of Parliament :
Parliament is often referred to as the Legislature, as its major function is to make the laws of the land.
The Electoral Process in Solomon Islands :
The electoral process refers to a series of steps involved in the preparation and conduct of an election. The process must be carried out in accordance with the laws, procedures and regulations governing such an election.
The laws, procedures and regulations spell out how the election is to be conducted by the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission, the rights and responsibilities of voters, political parties, candidates, election agents, observers and the media.
Activities in the Electoral Process
** Voter education;
** Voter registration;
** Delimitation of constituencies and wards;
** Inspection of voters roll;
** Proclamation of Election dates;
** Nomination of candidates;
** Political campaigns;
** Polling;
** Verification, Counting, collating, and announcement of results;
** Declaration of winner;
** Appeals/Petitions;