2019 Solomon Islands general election

General elections were held in the Solomon Islands on 3 April 2019.[1] They were the first general elections since the RAMSI mission concluded in 2017. On 24 April 2019, Manasseh Sogavare was elected by the 11th National Parliament as Prime Minister of Solomon Islands.[2]

2019 Solomon Islands general election

3 April 2019
All 50 seats of the National Parliament 25 seats needed for a majority
Prime Minister before election Rick Houenipwela Democratic Alliance Party Elected Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare Independent

Electoral system

The 50 members of the National Parliament were elected in single-member constituencies using first-past-the-post voting.[3]

Voters had to be at least 18 years old and hold Solomon Islands citizenship. Overseas residents could not vote, and people were disqualified for voting if they have committed a breach of the electoral law, been declared insane, been imprisoned for more than six months, or are under a death sentence.[3] A total of 359,690 Solomon Islanders registered to vote in the elections, an increase of 72,000 compared to the 2014 elections.[4]

Candidates had to be at least 21 years old and resident in the constituency in which they ran. Disqualifications included holding dual citizenship, being executives or members of the Electoral Commission, having an undischarged bankruptcy, being imprisoned for more than six months, or being under a death sentence.[3]

Conduct

There were reports that voters faced irregularities at polling stations, such as names missing from the electoral register.[5]

Fears of violence following the results resulted in police officers being on alert as results were announced.[6]

Australian and New Zealand defence forces provided contingency logistics support before and during the elections, including approximately 300 personnel, HMAS Melville, and six support helicopters. Observers included New Zealand observer groups in three constituencies, Australian observer groups in fourteen constituencies, and Australian National University researchers and observers in fifteen constituencies.[7]

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Solomon Islands Democratic Party	42,245	13.64	8	New
	Solomon Islands United Party	32,302	10.43	2	New
	Kadere Party	29,426	9.50	8	+7
	United Democratic Party	25,295	8.17	4	–1
	Democratic Alliance Party	19,720	6.37	3	–4
	People's Alliance Party	18,573	6.00	2	–1
	People First Party	11,419	3.69	1	–
	Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement	9,878	3.19	1	–
	National Transformation Party	4,622	1.49	0	–
	Pan Melanesian Congress Party	1,514	0.49	0	–
	Green Party Solomon Islands	619	0.20	0	New
	New Nation Party	593	0.19	0	–
	Peoples Progressive Party	381	0.12	0	–
	Independents	113,178	36.54	21	–11
Invalid/blank votes		902	–	–	–
Total		310,667	100	50	0
Registered voters/turnout		359,523	86.41	–	–
Source: Solomon Islands Election Resources

By constituency

Constituency	Elected MP	Party	Votes	%
Aoke/Langalanga	Matthew Wale	Solomon Islands Democratic Party	3,712	46.9%
Baegu/Asifola	Makario Tagini	United Democratic Party	3,028	31.7%
Central Guadalcanal	Peter Shanel Agovaka	Independent	3,584	47.7%
Central Honiara	John Moffat Fugui	United Democratic Party	4,028	33.4%
Central Kwara'ae	Jackson Fiulaua	Independent	3,200	43.1%
Central Makira	Nestor Ghiro	Independent	3,803	70.4%
East 'Are'are	Peter Junior Kenilorea	Solomon Islands United Party	4,200	60.2%
East Central Guadalcanal	Ishmael Avui	Kadere Party	3,187	50.3%
East Choiseul	Manasseh Sogavare	Independent	1,860	59.3%
East Guadalcanal	Bradley Tovosia	Independent	3,985	69.2%
East Honiara	Douglas Ete	Solomon Islands Democratic Party	5,710	47.9%
East Kwaio	Festus Stanley Sofu	Independent	3,949	62.4%
East Makira	Charles Maefai	Independent	3,740	52.2%
East Malaita	Manaseh Maelanga	People's Alliance Party	2,966	56.8%
Fataleka	Rexon Annex Ramofafia	Solomon Islands United Party	2,628	41.2%
Gao/Bugotu	Samuel Manetoali	Kadere Party	2,457	50.9%
Gizo/Kolombangara	Lanelle Olandrea Tanangada	Kadere Party	4,397	51.7%
Hograno/Kia/Havulei	Jeremiah Manele	Democratic Alliance Party	4,568	73.5%
Lau/Mbaelelea	Augustine Auga	Independent	4,728	49.2%
Malaita Outer Islands	Martin Mokolo Kealoe	Solomon Islands Democratic Party	1,219	44.0%
Maringe/Kokota	Culwick Togamana	Democratic Alliance Party	2,462	46.1%
Marovo	Chachabule Rebi Amoi	People First Party	5,619	59.3%
Nggella	Batholomew Parapolo	Kadere Party	2,512	26.1%
North East Guadalcanal	Jaimie Vokia	Independent	1,835	38.5%
North Guadalcanal	Samson Maneka	Solomon Islands Democratic Party	2,320	41.3%
North Malaita	Levi Senley Filualea	Independent	2,698	38.9%
North New Georgia	Dean Kuku	Independent	2,267	64.1%
North Vella La Vella	Clezy Rore	United Democratic Party	2,232	54.5%
North West Choiseul	Harry Kuma	Independent	2,948	51.3%
North West Guadalcanal	Bodo Dettke	Solomon Islands Democratic Party	3,021	52.5%
Ranongga/Simbo	Charles Sigoto	Solomon Islands Democratic Party	2,592	57.5%
Rennell/Bellona	Tautai Agikimu'a Kaitu'u	Independent	837	27.7%
Russells/Savo	Dickson Mua	Independent	2,027	32.1%
Shortlands	Christopher Laore	People's Alliance Party	1,978	67.7%
South Choiseul	Robertson Galokale	Independent	999	19.1%
South Guadalcanal	Rollen Seleso	Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement	3,104	47.9%
Small Malaita	Rick Nelson Houenipwela	Democratic Alliance Party	2,302	33.6%
South New Georgia/Rendova/Tetepari	Danny Philip	United Democratic Party	1,577	43.9%
South Vella La Vella	Federick Kologeto	Independent	2,932	55.5%
Temotu Nende	Commins Mewa	Kadere Party	1,579	32.1%
Temotu Pele	Duddley Kopu	Independent	1,710	43.8%
Temotu Vatud	Freda Soria Comua	Kadere Party	1,344	47.2%
Ulawa/Ugi	Willie Marau	Kadere Party	1,778	52.2%
West 'Are'are	John Maneniaru	Kadere Party	3,223	55.9%
West Guadalcanal	Anthony Veke	Independent	4,407	62.8%
West Honiara	Namson Tran	Independent	5,683	66.3%
West Kwaio	Titus Mokofi Fika	Independent	1,697	30.6%
West Kwara'ae	Sam Shemul Iduri	Solomon Islands Democratic Party	1,996	23.3%
West Makira	Derick Rawcliff Manu'ari	Solomon Islands Democratic Party	2,637	43.3%
West New Georgia/Vona Vona	Silas Kerry Vagara	Independent	1,888	27.9%
Source: SIEC (results), SIEC (party affiliations)

References

1. Votes for sale in Solomon Islands election Radio New Zealand, 12 February 2019
2. "Manasseh Sogavare elected prime minister of Solomon Islands". Radio New Zealand. 2019-04-24. Retrieved 2019-04-26.
3. Electoral system IPU
4. SIEC publishes final voter list SIBC, 17 January 2019
5. "Reports of irregularities as Solomon Islands polls close". Radio New Zealand. 2019-04-03. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
6. "Solomon Islands: Counting begins after national election". ABC Radio Australia. 2019-04-04. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
7. "Contingency Logistics Factsheet". Solomon Islands Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2019.