Solomon Islands to hold elections

Solomon Islands will hold a crucial election on Wednesday as people vote to choose the next government, with the results likely to impact the region due to the country’s ties with China.

The island nation’s nearly 760,000 people are spread across 900 islands, making the electoral process particularly challenging. It will take weeks to collect votes, form a new government and identify the next prime minister.

The election was due to be held last year but was postponed by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, who argued that the country could not afford to hold the vote and host the Pacific Regional Games in the same year. Sogavare’s critics called the decision a power grab. He is the frontrunner for an unprecedented second term.

China is also a source of concern in the election due to its growing security presence in the Pacific.

“The outcome will determine whether Solomon Islands continues to develop its relationship with China or changes course and takes a different approach,” Parker Novak, a non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global China Center, told VOA in a written response.

How are elections conducted?

Polling stations will open at 7am Solomon Islands time (20:00 GMT on Tuesday) and remain open until 4pm (05:00 GMT).

Voters must be citizens over 18 years of age. The candidate with the most votes will be elected.

Fifty MPs will be elected from 334 candidates, only 21 of whom are women. These 50 newly elected officials will then determine the Prime Minister.

There are concerns that a host of domestic problems, including youth unemployment and weak health and education systems, will lead to tensions and manifestations of political discontent.

Reporter William Yang contributed to this report, which included information from The Associated Press.