Lobby group, Transparency Solomon Islands, in an article in the Solomon Star, wants the Minister of Home Affairs, Chris Laore, to change the electoral system. TSI recommended that the first past the post system be replaced by a limited preferential voting system where the voter must rank the candidates according to their preference which will ensure that the candidate that is ‘most preferred’ wins. TSI also recommended that provision be made for absentee voting to ensure that voters need not travel to their constituency to vote given problems with the high costs of travelling. (Source: Solomon Star 14, May 2019)
TSI’s recommendations suggest some dissatisfaction with the results of the 2019 national general elections. A change in the electoral system may not necessarily achieve the desired result and may in fact lead to more problems. The underlying premise of TSI’s recommendation may need to be further scrutinised.
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