All candidates who have contested the West Kwara’ae National By-election are reminded that 30th August 2023 is the final date for submission of candidates’ accounts of campaign expenses.
Chief Electoral Officer, Mr Jasper Highwood Anisi made this request in relation to section 69 of the Electoral Act 2018 which requires all candidates in an election to submit their account of election campaigning expenses.
Section 69 of the Electoral Act states that ‘a candidate contesting in an election must submit his/her statement of account within 90 days after the publication of an election result in the gazette’ Mr Anisi said.
“The statement of account must also disclose details of the sources of all funds including the amount received from each of the sources”, he said.
The official result for the 2023 West Kwara’ae By-Election was published in the gazette on the 2nd of June 2023. 90 days from 2nd June is 30th August 2023.
Mr. Anisi reminds that non-compliance or failure to submit these expenses may result in heavy penalties.
Disclosing campaign expenses is critical to upholding and promoting accountability in the conduct of elections allowing the Electoral Commission or even the public to scrutinize campaign finances, and how funds are used which can deter fraudulent actions and activities.
The approved form for submitting candidates’ statements of account can be collected from the Solomon Islands Electoral Office at Vavaya Ridge.
If you want to know more on how to go about submitting these accounts of campaign expenses, do call George Mali on Phone 7655660.
For Election Happenings and update, follow SIEO’s Facebook @SIelectoralcommission page and website at www.siec.gov.sb Or for general inquiries, you can call the office hotline phone on 7222200 or landline 21198.
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SIEO PRESS