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Second Secretary Mary Thurston, NZHC Honiara, conducting election observation at Gold Ridge polling station, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 6 May 2009New Zealand missions overseas often have the opportunity to participate as accredited electoral observers in their host countries.
Our officers visit a range of polling stations on a general or by-election day. In some countries this can involve difficult four-wheel drive journeys along mountainside tracks or across rivers.
Observers are asked to check that local voting procedure is followed, to look at voter participation, and to offer an impartial view on whether the elections are free and fair. Observers may also attend the opening and closing of polling stations, and vote-counting.
Observers must not interfere with the voting process or seek to influence voters. If electoral malpractice is suspected, an observer can raise this immediately with the polling station’s presiding officer and also include this in their report.
Electoral observation also gives our officers the chance to meet and talk with local people, often living outside the country’s capital, to find out more about issues affecting them.
In May 2009 the New Zealand High Commission in Solomon Islands sent Second Secretary Mary Thurston to observe the Central Guadalcanal by-election, accompanied by two local staff members. The by-election was judged to have been run satisfactorily.
With general elections due to be held in Solomon Islands in 2010, the New Zealand High Commission is likely to repeat its role as an electoral observer, if invited by the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission to participate.
