​Voters urged to participate

All voters and candidates have been urged to participate in this important national process and to abide by the electoral laws of the country to ensure a peaceful and successful election.

The Chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group in Papua New Guinea, Sir Anand Satyanand, said this while wishing the people of Papua New Guinea well at the start of two weeks of polling, which opened in some areas on 24 June.  

Sir Anand commended the efforts of all involved in preparing the elections and noted the considerable logistical challenges and the resources required to stage the national election. 

“The electoral commission is leading a complex operation with support from national and provincial agencies, as well as development partners,” says Sir Anand.

There are more than 10,000 polling stations. The five million voters are being asked to choose from more than 3,300 candidates to represent them in the 111-seat Parliament.

More than 10,000 security personnel from the police, prisons and defence force have also been deployed to the polling areas to assist the electoral officials and maintain law and order. 

Many polling teams, and voters, walk for hours to reach their assigned station. Rugged terrain and few roads means a lot of the logistics revolves around aircraft, helicopters and boats. 

The 12 member Commonwealth Observer Group spent a week in briefings by a range of government officials, representatives of civil society groups, political party spokespeople and a number of Commonwealth High Commissioners.

The Commonwealth teams have been deployed to West/East Sepik, Western/Eastern Highlands – Chimbu, Jiwaka, Goroka, Mt Hagen – Milne Bay, Madang, Morobe, West New Britain, New Ireland, Bougainville, Central Province and the National Capital District.

Meanwhile, at the previous election in 2012, a Commonwealth Observer Group made a number of recommendations, some of which have been adopted by the elections office for the 2017 poll. Among them are the addition of an express lane in some areas for those needing special assistance, as well as the appointment of an elections advisory committee.

Author: 
Press release