Elections in Solomon Islands: 2024 Joint Elections
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On Wednesday, April 17, 2024, Solomon Islands will hold its first nationwide synchronized elections for Parliament, seven provincial assemblies, and the Honiara City Council. Over 420,000 voters may cast ballots at around 1,200 polling stations spread over an area of 249,000 nautical square miles. Parliament delayed the elections from late 2023 to avoid coinciding with the Pacific Games in Honiara.
On April 17, 2024, Solomon Islands will hold the country’s first nationwide Joint Elections for 50 seats in Parliament, 131 seats in seven provincial assemblies, and 12 seats on the Honiara City Council. Up to 420,185 registered voters will cast their ballots at approximately 1,200 polling stations throughout the country. The Solomon Islands Electoral Commission is aiming for a maximum of 600 voters per polling station. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The 2024 Joint Elections will be the first in which the country synchronizes the National General Election for Parliament with elections for provincial assemblies and the Honiara City Council. A Constitutional amendment delayed the election by several months and deferred the dissolution of Parliament until December 31, 2023. The government stated that a primary reason for the delay was to avoid coinciding with the Pacific Games in Honiara in November and December 2023.
Solomon Islands has a parliamentary system of government under a constitutional monarchy. The unicameral Parliament comprises 50 members from single-seat constituencies who are elected to four-year terms. Parliament elects a prime minister as the head of government. The British monarch is the head of state; he or she appoints a governor-general to a term of up to five years on the advice of Parliament.
Provincial governments were envisioned in the Solomon Islands’ 1978 Constitution but did not come into effect until the Provincial Government Act of 1997. Provincial assemblies and the Honiara City Council are composed of one member from each of their respective wards; each member is elected to a four-year term.
Solomon Islands uses the first-past-the-post electoral system, meaning that a candidate needs only a plurality of votes to win a seat.
Qualifications to run for and serve in Parliament, provincial assemblies, and the Honiara City Council include:
- Solomon Islands citizenship;
- Attaining at least 21 years of age; and
- Registration as an elector according to the requirements of the office for which an individual is running.
Some restrictions that bar candidacy include:
- Acknowledging allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state;
- Contesting another seat for an election held at the same time;
- Certification as of “unsound mind” under any law in Solomon Islands;
- Being under a sentence of death imposed by any court in any part of the world, or a sentence exceeding a term of six months; and
- Disqualification under the laws applicable to the type of election being contested.
No seats are reserved for women. Twenty women have registered to contest the upcoming parliamentary elections. Four women served in the previous Parliament—a historic high in Solomon Islands. Two of those women declined to re-compete for their seats, and their husbands are replacing them as candidates. Forty-five women registered to contest Provincial Assembly and Honiara City Council elections. Since independence in 1978, only six women have won seats in Parliament, and 15 women have won seats in provincial assemblies.
The Ministry of Women, Youth, Children, and Family Affairs committed to table legislation in the next session of Parliament that would establish “temporary special measures” to guarantee seats for women in provincial assemblies.
The Electoral Act limits electoral campaign spending by candidates for Parliament to no more than 500,000 SBD (approximately $58,000 USD). Provincial Assembly and Honiara City Council regulations limit electoral campaign spending by candidates running for those seats to 50,000 SBD (approximately $5,800). Candidates may not accept donations from people who are not citizens of Solomon Islands or from companies with at least one shareholder who is not a citizen.
No more than 90 days after the publication of results, each candidate must submit a statement of accounts to the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission listing all campaign-related expenses and funding sources.
The Electoral Act states that appropriate arrangements must be made “for electors with disabilities or other special needs to cast their votes, including by ensuring polling stations and polling booths are accessible.”
In March 2023, the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) published its Gender Equality and Social Inclusion policy to demonstrate its commitment to improve the social inclusion of marginalized people in elections. In the same month, SIEC staff participated in a disability rights training hosted by People with Disabilities Solomon Islands (PWDSI) and IFES. IFES also supported PWDSI to assess polling station accessibility. PWDSI submitted its findings and recommendations to the SIEC later in 2023.
On March 18, 2024, the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission signed a memorandum of understanding with the Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF). Under the memorandum, the RSIPF will provide for the security of ballot boxes, electoral officials, and election operations. The RSIPF is implementing public order management training across the country with support from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) under the RSIPF-AFP Policing Partnership Program. The National Police College of the United Kingdom provided special training to the RSIPF in preparation for the Joint Elections.
In constituencies or wards where only one candidate stands for election, the returning officer must declare that candidate the winner on Election Day and notify the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) in writing. In each contested constituency and ward, returning officers must announce the winner once counting is complete and then notify the SIEC in writing. The SIEC must forward a copy of each written notice to the governor-general and the clerk of Parliament and publish the notice in the Solomon Islands Gazette.
Solomon Islands Elections by the Numbers
In 2022-23, the Pacific Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands will each hold national elections, highlighting each country’s progression towards more open and democratic best practices. IFES is working with regional election management bodies and local civil society organizations (CSOs) to strengthen electoral capacity and ensure elections are more inclusive for all citizens. Since 2001, IFES has been a committed stakeholder in providing partners in the region with global expertise and knowledge on international best practices focused on good governance.
The Pacific Islands encompasses a diverse political and electoral landscape with each country facing its own unique challenges and opportunities. To effectively address these issues, IFES partners with regional election management bodies to strengthen electoral integrity, planning and operations, as well as promote best practices for the inclusive participation of marginalized people. IFES’ partners with local CSOs to help them to increase he political participation; promote the inclusion of women, youth and persons with disabilities; raise voter awareness; and combat mis- and disinformation. In its region-wide efforts to make lasting improvements to democratic processes, IFES provides technical expertise focused on good governance and anti-corruption. Current IFES programming covers 12 Pacific Islands countries: the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
These FAQs reflect decisions made by the Solomon Islands Election Commission as of April 9, 2024, to the best of our knowledge. This document does not represent any International Foundation for Electoral Systems policy or technical recommendations.