SIEC calls on West Kwaio By-Election Contestants to submit Election Campaign Expenses

The Solomon Islands Electoral Commission made a final call for candidates who contested the West Kwaio National Parliamentary By-election on September 15th this year to submit their Statements of account on Election Campaign Expenses.

Acting Chief Electoral Officer Mr Fredrick Bosoboe said Section 69 of the Electoral Act requires, all candidate contestants in any national parliamentary election must submit his/her statement of account on all election campaign related expenses to the Chief electoral Officer within a given legal period of 90 days.

“The West Kwaio by-election official election result was published on Wednesday 28th September, 2022,” Mr Bosoboe said.

He explained that, this ninety (90) days period commences from the date of official publication of the election result.

The 90-days legal period is counting from 28th September, 2022 lapsing on Monday 26th December 2022.

“Any candidates contested in the recent West Kwaio By-Election who has not yet submitted his/her statement of election campaign expense, has until 26th December, 2022 to submit.

The Acting Chief Electoral Officer said in complying to this requirement, each candidate must submit his/her election campaign expense within this 90-day given period”.

“This must include all sources of funds received to support candidate’s election campaign trails, how they have used and what they have used it for.”

“Failing to submit this election expense account is an election offense carrying a penalty of $20,000 and or 2 years imprisonment.”  

“Any candidate who continues to fail to submit after the 26th December, 2022 deadline, an additional fine of $100 will be charged each day that he/she fails to submit,” Mr Bosoboe explained.

To avoid paying accumulation of this $100 unit each day for failing to submit, candidates are encouraged to submit within this 90-day given period.

Candidates contested in the recent by-election national parliamentary elections, as of Monday 19th December, have exactly Seven (7) days remaining to submit their statement of account of their election campaign expenses.

Note that these election campaign expense accounts must be submitted on a special prescribed approved form that can be collected from the Electoral Commission office either in hard or soft copy or can also be downloaded online from Electoral Commission Official Website, www.siec.gov.sb.  

There are two forms that will be used to submit these expenses.  The first one is for the submission of all the expenses and the second one is the declaration form to certify the integrity of your report.  This declaration must be signed by the candidate and attached with the expense report.

ENDS///

SIEO PRESS