Caption 3: The Australian National University - Solomon Islands National University election observer team completed three days of training in Honiara, before departing to 15 constituencies across Solomon Islands. Photo: Australian High Commission in Solomon Islands
The Australian National University (ANU) will work with the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) to observe the Solomons' joint election on 17 April.
The election set down for 17 April - a week away - and pre-polling has been done for election day working officials.
Seven Australian researchers arrived in Honiara last week to begin the observation mission, joining 81 local researchers recruited from civil society and the tertiary sector.
The two universities also teamed up on an election observer mission in 2019.
Dr Lincy Pendeverana, who leads the SINU team, said the mission will review all aspects of the electoral process, "from legislation to voter registration, from campaign activity to the handling of complaints and appeals".
"We will watch to see how voting is conducted and most importantly that people feel they can vote safely and anonymously," he said.
The head of the ANU group, James Batley, said they will not just monitor and observe, but "show that we care about the issues important to people".
"Part of our monitoring will evaluate the experiences of citizens in constituencies across the country, to hear their stories, as well as to make sure the elections are carried out properly and fairly."
Australian High Commissioner Rod Hilton said voters can also expect to see Australian High Commission staff at polling stations - they are planning for around 30 members of their team to observe election day in seven of the nine provinces.
Meanwhile, chief electoral officer and commissioner Jasper Highwood Anisi acknowledged the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) for the delivery of ballot papers to the provinces.
"This would be the first in election history to have the ballot papers delivered two weeks earlier, before election day," Inisi said.
He said four provinces have received ballot papers and ballot boxes - Makira Ulawa, Temotu, Isabel and Central Island Provinces - while the rest are set to receive theirs soon.
He also acknowledged the support of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) for airlifting the ballot papers and boxes last week to other provinces.
Anisi said the NZDF and the ADF will also assist with security and the movement of ballot boxes from various polling stations to the counting centres.
