Solomon Islands National University and ANU Launch Groundbreaking 2024 Elections Report
In a major step forward for democratic research and regional collaboration, the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) has officially launched the 2024 Solomon Islands Elections Research Report, a landmark study produced in partnership with the Australian National University (ANU) through its Department of Pacific Affairs (DPA).
Hailed as one of the most comprehensive studies of its kind in the Solomon Islands, the report draws on a vast dataset including 5,300 citizen surveys and 570 election observer reports across 15 constituencies. It offers a unique, in-depth look at the national elections held in April 2024 and the complex dynamics shaping the country’s democratic processes.
Speaking at the launch, SINU Vice Chancellor Professor Transform Aqorau praised the report as a model of “people-to-people research partnerships” that go beyond formal institutional collaborations. He underscored the importance of regional cooperation in a time of rising geopolitical competition, calling for more joint research, staff mobility, and knowledge-sharing between Pacific universities.
“The real opportunity lies not only in the data we’ve collected,” Professor Aqorau said, “but in how we use it to inform future joint research, policy engagement, and publication. We must work towards a Solomon Islands where evidence-based decision-making and data-driven governance are the norm—not the exception.”
The research explores a wide range of critical topics, including:
- Voter education and campaign strategies
- Electoral integrity, registration, and polling-day security
- Barriers to women’s political participation
- The role of Constituency Development Funds (CDFs) in shaping voter behaviour
- Post-election governance, “money politics”, and public confidence in democratic institutions
The report also shines a spotlight on citizen engagement beyond election day, with Professor Aqorau warning that “democracy becomes elitist when political participation is restricted to a few, and citizens are reduced to bystanders.” He closed his remarks by thanking the joint research teams and citing a powerful quote from President John F. Kennedy: “The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.”
Other distinguished speakers at the launch included Associate Professor Sonia Palmieri from ANU, Lindsay Buckingham, Minister Counsellor at the Australian High Commission, and Jasper Anisi, Chief Electoral Officer and CEO of the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC).
The research team—Dr Colin Wiltshire, Dr Lincy Pende, Dr Leonora Houma, Ms Vhairi Devi, and Dr John Fasi—presented the key findings of the report to a packed audience. Their presentation sparked an engaging Q&A session, giving attendees the chance to explore the report’s insights and implications in greater depth.
As Professor Aqorau noted, the findings are a call to action—not only for government and electoral bodies but for universities, civil society, and voters themselves. “Elections are not just a one-day event, but part of a longer democratic process,” he said.
The event reaffirmed SINU’s commitment to producing research that both informs and empowers. With this new report, the university strengthens its role as a thought leader in the region and opens the door for future collaborations that support transparent, inclusive, and resilient democracies in the Pacific.
🔗 Click here to view Professor Transform Aqorau’s full speech
🔗 Click here to access the full 2024 Solomon Islands Elections report