VOTERS CONCERNED OVER LONG DISTANCES

Electorates raised concerns of having to walk long distances to register. Photo: Toabaita Authority blog

The long distance voters will have to travel to have their names registered for the National General Election is a barrier to some North Malaita voters.

SIBC News Stringer for North Malaita John Andrew Kiri reports communities in North Malaita may not be able to register this year due to the distance separating the registration venue and the voters to be registered.

“It seems many eligible voters who reside afar, like two to three kilometres away, or having to walk for two hours to the closest or nearest registration centre would probably miss out”.

Kiri adds the communities are some of the most highly populated area in North Malaita which include areas around Fourere and Takwa.

“In terms of population, the area is heavily populated because it reaches far as the coastal areas including those inland, so when the registration centres are located far from people, it would cause them a lot of inconveniences to go and register or even to cast a vote”, he said.

Kiri said, community representative believe, failure to register and vote is a matter of concern for the government.