Ballots are due to be cast in one of the Pacific's largest elections as Solomon Islanders, from the city to remote villages, choose their next national leaders.
About 350,000 people are due to vote across 50 seats on Wednesday, a nationwide public holiday.
For the first time, the national vote also coincides with elections for eight of the 10 local governments.
With early voting open to a select few, voters have spent recent days travelling back to home electorates, quietening the capital Honiara and forcing the nation's main hospital to enter crisis mode due to a lack of staff.
More than 1000 polling stations are scattered across villages and town centres across the island nation northeast of Cairns.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, regarded for his political acumen but criticised for backsliding on democracy, has asked voters to back his economic plans against a backdrop of closer ties with China.
His term in power, which is his fourth and longest stint in the top office, has been controversial for switching diplomatic ties from Taiwan without parliamentary approval, and overseeing a 28-month COVID-19 state of emergency.
But Mr Sogavare points to China's gift of a $100 million sporting complex and similarly-sized loan to build a Huawei-led national broadband network as examples of why the deal is right for the developing country.
Opposition figures, meanwhile, have campaigned on re-examining elements of the Chinese relationship including a 2022 security pact.
Domestic issues, including health services and the rising cost of living, have also played key roles in the campaigns.
Fiona Tafea travelled two hours by boat on Tuesday to support her sister Irene Vaukei's independent campaign in the Nggela Islands.
Ms Vaukei is among only 21 women contesting seats in the national election.
"There are many structural issues (concerning women) and we want to raise the issues to the national level," Ms Tafea told AAP from a dock in Honiara.
Ideological positions such as on the economy and loyalties to candidates through blood or church are among matters influencing how ballots are cast, one expert says.
"Votes are impacted by so many matters including self-interest, sometimes bribes or thinking the local MP will do good things for voters personally," Dr Anouk Ride, research fellow at Australian National University's Pacific Affairs department, told AAP last week.
While the usually overcrowded Honiara is expected to remain quiet during voting and early counting, police have warned they are prepared to quickly respond to any potential repeat of politically motivated disorder.
Major riots occurred in Honiara in 2006 and 2021, the latter causing damage equal to 6.5 per cent of the nation's GDP and prompting the Beijing-Honiara security pact.
"National and provincial politics can be very volatile," Emeritus Professor Clive Moore, a highly regarded Solomons and Australian historian, told AAP on Tuesday.
"The police need to handle the situation carefully."
Australia has provided $25 million in election assistance including logistical support to get polling stations and ballots to extremely remote areas.
More than 430 Australian military and police personnel are also on the ground to assist with logistics and security, as requested by Solomons authorities.
Counting will begin on Thursday, but the formation of government is not expected for many days.
This article was made possible through the Melbourne Press Club's Michael Gordon Journalism Fellowship Program.
Australian Associated Press
