Elections in Solomon Islands

The Constitution of Solomon Islands, the Electoral Act 2018 and the Provincial Assemblies and Honiara City Council Electoral Act 2023 provide the main legal framework. The National Parliament has 50 members elected from 50 constituencies, with one seat in each constituency. A first-past-the-post election uses one voting round, and the candidate with the highest number of valid votes wins. Provincial Assemblies and Honiara City Council elections also use single-member electoral wards and the same voting principle. Parliament normally lasts four years from the first sitting after a general election. After Parliament is dissolved, the Governor-General appoints the general election by Proclamation within four months. The election date must be published at least 56 days in advance. The 2024 National General Election took place on 17 April 2024 and was the first joint election for Parliament, Provincial Assemblies and Honiara City Council. Voters received two ballots: one for Parliament and one for their province or Honiara. Western and Choiseul did not hold provincial elections in 2024 because their provincial terms continued until 2028; synchronization was planned for 2028. A voter must be a Solomon Islands citizen, at least 18 years old and ordinarily resident in the constituency where the voter is registered. Registration is limited to one constituency, so a person cannot vote in another constituency simply because they are there on polling day. The law excludes non-citizens, people serving a sentence of at least six months including a suspended sentence, people sentenced to death, people with a medically certified mental disorder and people disqualified for an election-related reason. A 17-year-old may complete pre-registration and be transferred to the final voters list after turning 18. The Solomon Islands Electoral Commission, commonly called SIEC, maintains the voters roll, conducts voter education, designates polling stations, receives nominations, accredits observers, supervises polling and counting, and publishes results. A registration application uses Form 1 and is submitted during the registration period at a registration centre with proof of identity and qualifications. The provisional list is opened for inspection and objections, followed by a public inquiry and publication of the final list. The primary sources consulted for voter registration do not state a registration fee. Continuous voter registration and overseas voting were not introduced in the 2024 process, and no general out-of-constituency or overseas voting system was in force. New voter-registration field operations for 2027 were announced. A candidate for Parliament must be a Solomon Islands citizen, at least 21 years old and free from constitutional disqualification. The nomination requires three registered electors who live in the constituency, Form 2, personal submission at the nomination place and payment of a $5,000 nomination fee. A person may stand in only one constituency. A political-party candidate must also meet the requirements in section 65 of the Electoral Act 2018. The nomination period begins on the day after the election date is appointed and ends at least 42 days before polling. The campaign period begins when the election date is published and ends 24 hours before polling. Candidates may appoint polling and counting agents. Campaign expenses are capped at $500,000, and donations may come only from Solomon Islands citizens or companies whose shareholders are exclusively from Solomon Islands. Bribery, undue influence, interference with ballots or polling, false SIEC material and campaigning outside the permitted period are offences. A campaign statement must be submitted within 90 days after publication of the election result. On polling day, officials identify the voter and mark the voters register. The voter receives the official ballot, uses the official mark in the box for one candidate, keeps the choice secret, folds the ballot and places it in the ballot box. A Presiding Officer and a witness may assist a voter with a disability. A ballot that was spoiled through a credible mistake may be replaced. Pre-poll voting is available to Electoral Officials, serving Police Officers and any other classes provided by law; an application must be made by the legal deadline, at least seven days before pre-poll. Remote voting is available only if regulations provide for it, not as a general automatic option. The Returning Officer verifies all polling-station materials before counting a constituency. Pre-poll and ordinary ballots are mixed and batched, then valid and invalid ballots are separated. A ballot is valid when the voter's intention is clear. It is invalid when it has no vote, lacks the official mark, identifies the voter or does not show a clear choice. Counting agents and accredited observers may attend. A tie leads to a recount and, if the tie remains, a fresh election. If only one candidate stands, the Returning Officer declares that candidate elected without a contested vote. The SIEC publishes the result in the relevant Gazette and publishes the final electors list within 30 days, including election participation. An elector or candidate may challenge an election by petitioning the High Court within 30 days after publication of the result. The Court may declare an election invalid, including where a candidate lacked the required qualifications or a corrupt or illegal practice affected the election. Petitions about status or a vacancy follow a separate process. Solomon Islands does not elect the Prime Minister directly: after a general election, members of Parliament choose the Prime Minister from among themselves under Schedule 2 of the Constitution.