The Solomon Islands Electoral Commission says fewer candidates have registered for next month's national elections than the previous poll in 2010.
Electoral Operations officer, Freddie Bosoboe, says the low number of candidates is surprising and he says there may be a link to new legislation to formalise and strengthen political partie.
"What we are seeing now is a bit of a reduction in the number of, total number of candidates as to, if I can remember well in 2010 we had 509 candidates but as of yesterday we only have 443 that are confirmed on the close of nominations yesterday."
Mr Bosoboe says nominated candidates have 72 hours to withdraw their nominations which will be finalised on the 25th. He says campaigning in the country is already picking up pace.
