The Motu-Koitabu Assembly elections will be conducted as scheduled with the writs to be issued on 30 August by the Minister for Provincial and Local-Level Government Affairs, Kevin Isifu.
The election program approved by Minister Isifu for the Motu-Koitabu elections is as follows:
Issue of Writs: Thursday, 30 August, 2018
Close of Nominations: Thursday, 6 September, 2018
Polling Starts: Saturday, 29 September, 2018
Polling Ends: Saturday, 19 October, 2018
Return of Writs: Friday, 26 October, 2018
Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato says under the Motu-Koitabu Act 2007, the PNG Electoral Commission was required to assist in conducting the Motu-Koitabu elections.
He said preparations to conduct the elections are currently progressing well.
“There’s an increase in enrolment figures from the past elections in 2013 and it’s expected that some 48,400 eligible voters would turn up to cast their votes on polling day.”
Gamato said voter registration ended last Friday (17 August, 2018) and the final roll was being compiled now for using during polling.
On the eligibility issue surrounding inter-married voters, the Electoral Commissioner cleared the confusion saying: “Inter-married voters are eligible to register and vote in the Motu-Koitabu elections.”
Meantime, ballot papers for the Motu-Koitabu elections would be printed locally, color-coded and in a pad of 50 ballot papers with serialized numbering and bar coded.
There would be three different ballot papers to be issued to each voter and they (ballot papers) would have different colour coding on an A4-sized paper with ward names printed on them.
- Ballot paper for Motu-Koitabu chairman – Sky blue
- Ballot paper for Ward Member/Councilor – Yellow (Gold)
- Ballot paper for Women’s Rep Motu-Koitabu East – Green
- Ballot paper for Women’s Rep Motu-Koitabu West – Pink
On voting day, women voters will be issued with three ballot papers while men will be issued with two ballot papers.
There are 14 wards in Motu-Koitabu – eight ward in Motu-Koitabu West and six wards in Motu-Koitabu East.
Motu Koitabu West has some 33,950 registered voters while Motu-Koitabu East has approximately 14,450 registered voters.
Wards in Motu-Koitabu West
- Araira
- Baruni
- Elevala Lahara
- Elevala Laurabada
- Elevala Mirigini
- Porepada Lahara
- Porebada Laurabada
- Tatana
Wards in Motu-Koitabu East
- Kirakira
- Korobosea
- Mahuru
- Pari Taoata
- Pari Taurama
- Vabukori
Returning Officer for the Motu-Koitabu elections is Election Manager for NCD Terence Hetinu while the two Assistant Returning Officers are Michael Are (Motu-Koitabu West) and Claire Gibson (Motu-Koitabu East).
Poll workers were currently in the process of being recruited while counting venues would be secured in the coming weeks.