The PNG Electoral Commission is making necessary preparations and arrangements to conduct another court-ordered judicial recount of the 2017 ballots for the Kandep Open seat in Enga Province.
The Waigani National Court last week ordered a recount after upholding the election petition filed by runner-up and former MP Don Polye on grounds of errors and omissions by the Electoral Commission.
Justice Colin Makail in his decision upheld two of the six grounds that went to trial, and they were mostly to do with errors and omissions by the Electoral Commission:
- Failure of scrutiny of votes at the polling venues in Mamal, Yumbis-Karekare, Mumunt 1, Luripak and Peilyanjak; and
- Failure to conduct scrutiny of votes/ballot papers during the counting process.
The Court has also ordered that votes in these disputed polling venues be excluded from the count; however, the new Returning Officer will decide whether to admit them for recount or not.
Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato says the Commission has drawn up a budget of K3.052 million to conduct the judicial recount for Kandep Open seat.
Gamato has written to the secretaries for Treasury and Finance to secure funds for the Kandep recount while PNGEC is still waiting for funds to be appropriated for the Hela Provincial judicial recount.
“We are considering the possibility of airlifting the less than 10 ballot boxes from Kandep to a neutral venue in Port Moresby to do the recount,” stated Gamato.
“This is to avoid a repetition of the 2009 Kandep by-election in which disgruntled supporters of certain candidates open fired at the counting venue at Kandep station from the surrounding limestone peaks.”
Gamato said while the incumbent MP Alfred Manase is seeking leave in the Supreme Court to appeal against the recount order, the Electoral Commission will proceed with its preparations.
Results of the recount results are to be provided to the court within seven days of the completion of the recount for a declaration to be made in court.
The court has ordered that the recount be conducted within a period of 60 days.
The Electoral Commission is yet to appoint a Returning Officer and Assistant Returning Officer and also set a date to conduct the recount.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Gamato outlines the costs of the eight court-ordered judicial recounts after the 2017 National Election.
|
NO. |
Provincial/Open Electorates |
Total Amount |
Status |
|
1 |
Central Bougainville Open |
K900,000 |
Completed |
|
2 |
Samarai-Murua Open |
K900,000 |
Completed |
|
3 |
Sohe Open |
K650,000 |
Completed |
|
4 |
Goroka Open |
K1, 500,000 |
Completed |
|
5 |
West Sepik Provincial |
K2, 500,000 |
Completed |
|
6 |
Chimbu Provincial |
K2, 500,000 |
Completed |
|
7 |
Hela Provincial |
K4,500,000 |
Pending |
|
8 |
Kandep Open |
K3,000,000 |
Pending |
|
|
TOTAL |
K16,450,000 |
|
Table above shows the number of judicial recounts, total cost for each and the status after the 2017 National Elections