On Sunday Solomon Islands Chief Electoral Officer, Jasper Anisi, said 68 per cent of parliamentary seats had been declared, as had 86 per cent of provincial assembly seats.

With more than 60% of the national results tallied, the Solomon Islands election is well underway. As the counting progresses, notable trends are emerging, including the election of two female MPs and the potential candidacy of three former prime ministers.

The pace of counting has been slow, attributed partly to the logistical challenge of transporting ballot boxes from remote areas to counting centers.

Additionally, this election marks the first time the country is conducting a joint election for both provincial and national candidates.

Leading the race thus far is Our Party, securing 32% of the counted votes, closely followed by independent MPs with 31%. The Development Party and the United Party trail behind, capturing just under 17% and 6.1% of the votes, respectively.

According to Chief Electoral Officer Jasper Anisi, over half of all national ballots have been counted, with parliamentary elections at 68%, provincial assembly at 86%, and Honiara City Council at 82%.

Voters, speaking anonymously, expressed their hopes for the incoming government, emphasizing the need for strong leadership to improve the economy and create job opportunities for the youth.

However, coalition negotiations are still in their early stages. Among the potential leaders are incumbent Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, along with former prime ministers Rick Hou and Gordon Darcy Lilo.

In a significant development, two female candidates, Freda Soria Comua and Choylin Douglas, have secured their spots in parliament, marking a step forward for gender representation in Solomon Islands politics. Another independent candidate, Cathy Nori, is also mentioned in provisional results.

As the Solomon Islands awaits the final outcome of its election, the political landscape is poised for further developments in the coming days.