Polling is underway across the Solomon Islands today in the South Pacific nation’s first general election. As many as 420,000 registered voters will have their say across 50 national seats.

More than 1,000 polling stations are scattered across villages and town centers across the Solomons archipelago, 2,000 kilometres off Australia’s northeast coast.

Australia has provided 16 million US dollars for election related expenses.

Vote counting will begin tomorrow. But the result will not be known for more than a week. The 50 elected lawmakers must then choose who among will become the next Prime Minister.