Solomon Islands General Elections, 19 November 2014
The report of the Commonwealth Observer Group for Solomon Islands general elections held on 19 November 2014. The group was chaired by Sir Mekere Morauta, former prime minister of Papua New Guinea and comprised 11 members in total.
The 2014 election was significant as it was the first general election held after the withdrawal of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands. The group found that the election was inclusive, competitive and demonstrated Solomon Islands’ commitment to democratic values and principles, although it noted that political representation of women remained disappointingly low.
Contents
Acknowledgements
Letter of transmittal
1. Introduction
1.1 Terms of reference
1.2 Activities
2. Political Background
2.1 Context for the general election 2014
2.2 Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands
2.3 Brief historical overview
2.4 Key issues
2.4.1 Issues facing government
2.4.2 Rural Constituency Development Funds and terminal grants
2.4.3 Foreign business interests
2.4.4 Women in parliament
3. Electoral Framework and Election Administration
3.1 Electoral system
3.2 National legal framework and regional and international commitments
3.3 Solomon Islands Electoral Commission
3.4 Eligibility and registration of electors
3.5 Political Parties Integrity Act and Political Parties Commission
3.6 Candidate eligibility and nomination
3.7 Election offences and petitions
3.8 Key issues
3.8.1 Solomon Islands Electoral Commission
3.8.2 Register of electors
3.8.3 Women’s participation and representation
3.9 Recommendations
4. Election Campaign and Media
4.1 Campaign
4.2 Media coverage
4.3 Recommendations
5. Voting, Counting and Results
5.1 Background
5.2 Voting and counting procedures
5.3 Assessment of the vote and the count
5.4 Provincial-specific observations
5.4.1 Honiara and West Guadalcanal
5.4.2 Honiara and North Guadalcanal
5.4.3 Central Province
5.4.4 Western Province – North, South and West New Georgia
5.4.5 Western Province – Gizo/Kolombangara
5.4.6 Isabel
5.4.7 Malaita
5.5 The results
5.6 Recommendations
6. Conclusions and Recommendations
Annex 1. Biographies of Chair and Observers
Annex 2. Deployment plan
Annex 3. Arrival Statement
Annex 4. Interim Statement
Browse subjects
- Agriculture Expand or collapse me
- Democracy and elections Expand or collapse me
- Debt and finance policy
- Economic development Expand or collapse me
- Education, gender and health Expand or collapse me
- Law and human rights Expand or collapse me
- Oceans and natural resources Expand or collapse me
- Public administration and governance Expand or collapse me
- Small states Expand or collapse me
- Sport for development and peace
- Taxation
- Trade Expand or collapse me
- Youth policy
