Kairuku-Hiri Open

COUNTING: Isoaimo, Aihi race for Kairuku-Hiri Open seat

It's a close race between incumbent Member and National Alliance Party's Peter Isoaimo and People’s National Congress Party candidate, Paru Aihi.

Independent candidate Steven John Manai has been eliminated after collecting 12,513 votes in the last exclusion.

Manai's votes will be distributed among the top two candidates.

Isoaimo has 18,817 votes and Aihi with 14,260 votes, with an absolute majority of 22,796 to reach.

The total ballot papers remaining in count are 45,590.

COUNTING: Kairuku-Hiri progressive result – after elimination 24

Candidates left in the race are incumbent Member and National Alliance Party's Peter Isoaimo, People’s Congress Party candidate Paru Aihi and Pangu Party's Steven John Manai.

After the 24th exclusion, Isoaimo maintains a comfortable lead on 18,817 votes with the absolute majority now at 22,796.

3,706 votes from Morata were distributed among the three remaining candidates, while the exhausted votes from this box were 3,694.

Results after elimination 24:

COUNTING: Kairuku-Hiri progressive result – after elimination 23

The candidates left in the race are incumbent Member and National Alliance Party's Peter Isoaimo, People’s Congress Party candidate Paru Aihi, PANGU's Steven John Manai and Independent candidate Scott Morata.

Isoaimo continues to maintain lead on 17,360 votes after elimination 23, after the 23rd exclusion of Gabriel Nicholas.

3,597 votes from Nicholas were distributed among the four remaining candidates while the exhausted votes from this box were 2,852.

COUNTING: Kairuku-Hiri counting suspended

Counting officials stopped the elimination process after exclusion 17 over nonpayment of their allowances.

Counting was officially suspended at 3pm today by Kairuku-Hiri returning officer Tabu Vaira.

Vaira said at the moment, he cannot do much as he has already advised the Electoral Commission about the issue.

He stated that counting will resume on Wednesday morning however, this will depend on the counting officials if they decide to continue and if their issue is addressed.

The ballot boxes were sealed by Vaira, witnessed by the scrutineers.

COUNTING: Kairuku-Hiri progressive result – after elimination 15

After the 15th exclusion of Allan Aisa Kekele, Isoaimo is ahead on 13,593 votes.

434 votes from Kekele were distributed among the 12 remaining candidates.

Results for the top five after elimination 15:

COUNTING: Kairuku-Hiri progressive result – after elimination 14

Incumbent Member and National Alliance candidate Peter Isoaimo continues to lead the race after elimination 14.

After the 14th exclusion of Michael A'o Aubo, Isoaimo is ahead on 13,492 votes.

360 votes from Aubo were distributed among the 13 remaining candidates.

Results for the top five after elimination 14:

    

COUNTING: Kairuku-Hiri progressive result – after elimination 13

After the 13th exclusion of Philip Aita Karolo, Isoaimo leads on 13,445 votes.

178 votes from Karolo were distributed among the 14 remaining candidates.

Results for the top five after elimination 13:

Officials agree to resume Kairuku-Hiri counting

Counting of the two last ballot boxes will commence at 6pm today.

The delay was due to administrative issues, including non-payment of allowances for the second shift of counting officials.

The decision to resume counting came after the Central Provincial Administrator, Gei Raga, addressed the officials and assured them that they will be paid their outstanding allowances.

Raga appealed to the officials to voluntarily continue counting as this election process must continue.

​Kairuku-Hiri Open declaration expects delay

Kairuku-Hiri Returning Officer, Tabu Vaira, said with the delay in counting of the last two ballot boxes due to administrative issues, they are now running behind schedule.

After the last two boxes are counted, they will then move on to quality checks.

Vaira explained that quality checks will depend on how fast they can go through to make sure that during the eliminations, no informal votes are found.

“Quality checks normally take one to two days but we will have to fast track the process,” he stated.

Kairuku-Hiri Open counting delayed

Counting ended at midnight yesterday after count 39 and is yet to resume today.

Kairuku-Hiri Returning Officer, Tabu Vaira, said counting of the two last boxes has been on hold due to the delay in payment of allowances for a handful of polling officials, who are also involved in counting.

He says allowance for polling officials is the responsibility of the Electoral Commission.

Vaira confirmed that counting will resume as soon as the assistant election manager for Central Province addresses the officials.