REPUBLIC OF KIRIBATI
(No. 11 of 2002)

I assent

(Sgd: Teburoro Tito)
Beretitenti
16/10/2002

An Act to AMEND THE ELECTION OF THE BERETITENTI ACT (CAP. 29a)

Commencement:
2002

MADE by the Maneaba ni Maungatabu and assented to by the Beretitenti.

Short Title

1.	This Act may be cited as the Election of the Beretitenti (Amendment) Act 2002.

Amendment of Part II

2.	Part II of the Election of the Beretitenti Act (as amended by Act No 4 of 1980) is further amended by repealing section 5 and substituting the following –

"Selection of nominees

5. (1)	At an election referred to in section 4(d), the provisions of this section apply.

(2)	The method of voting shall be by secret ballot.

(3)	There shall be two rounds of voting in which each member shall cast not more than a vote from among the candidates, and a member who is in the ballot may vote for himself.

(4)	Any dispute arising out of or in connection with the election shall be determined by the Speaker, whose decision is final.

(5)	When voting in the first round has been completed, the Speaker shall declare or cause to be declared the result of the voting in that first round and the two candidates with the greatest number of votes shall be duly nominated.

(6)	The Speaker shall then call for a second round of voting exempting the two candidates with the greatest number of votes in the first round from the ballot but not from taking part in the vote.

(7)	At the completion of voting in the second round, the Speaker shall declare or cause to be declared the result of the voting in that second round and the two candidates with the greatest number of votes shall be duly nominated.

(8)	If an equality of votes is found to exist between any of the members in the ballot, the Speaker shall order any further ballot that he thinks necessary, and the procedure at any further ballot shall be in accordance with this section." 

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ELECTION OF THE BERETITENTI (AMENDMENT) ACT 2002

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

The purpose of this Act is to make the selection of candidates for Beretitenti election by the members of the Maneaba ni Maungatabu more straightforward. Instead of a preferential voting system, a simple voting system is put in place in the event there are more than four candidates nominated. This is achieved by amending section 5 of the Election of the Beretitenti Act (Cap. 29A) as amended by Act No 4 of 1980.

Titabu Tabane
Attorney General
16 August 2002