Much like their South Pacific neighbors in Fiji, Solomon Islanders can now use their Electoral Services International (ESI) designed voter cards to open bank accounts at several banking institutions in Solomon Islands. Sylvester Hirogagana, from the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ) in Honiara, informed our very own Gordon Sinclair, Vice President Marketing & Business Development, that ANZ and Pan Oceanic Bank will now be accepting voter cards as age of majority proof of identification. These voter cards, that contain several layers of security, were printed and given to every voter who biometrically registered to vote in the general election that will be held later this year.
ESI is very proud to have assisted the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) and the nation as a whole in developing a trusted form of identification. We are confident that this will not stop at banking institutions.
When ESI is enlisted to assist in biometrically registering voters, there is value in doing so. It goes beyond simply registering to vote. We continue to demonstrate that value is created when a country or commission decides to partner with ESI. Providing durable voter/identity cards (and durable products overall) is one of those ways.