2017 National Election dates

He also reminded citizens that speculation about the role of the National Executive Council (NEC) in determining changes to laws regarding elections are limited to suggestions or recommendations to Parliament. On advice from NEC, Parliament then assesses the bills on their merits before voting for or against.

Basil is strongly urging Papua New Guineans to get involved and understand the importance of parliamentary processes.

PNG Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato said these are, reduction of campaign period from the current eight weeks to four weeks, separation of national and LLG elections, increase in nomination fee from K1,000 to K10,000 for national elections and K200 to K1,000 for LLG elections, increase in election petition filing fee from K5,000 to K20,000, places for filing election petitions to be restricted to four with one per region; provincial governments to conduct LLG elections, and online registration (enrolment) of eligible voters.

He made this statement in light of the Opposition’s outburst of his comments in a daily newspaper last week on legislations before Parliament to change the election dates.

Gamato said the revised date for the Issue of Writs from April 20 to May 20 depends entirely on Parliament's deliberations on the legislative amendments Bill on election laws to be tabled when it sits on January 24.

"If Parliament, which is the law-maker decides to change the date, I have no choice but to go by the laws that are made by the Parliament."

The local Bulolo MP told a press conference in Port Moresby that, this week’s announcement of the deferral of a major constitutional event, such as the issue of writs is illegal.

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato was quoted in The National newspaper that the dates for the issue of writs may be deferred to May 20 because of legislations before Parliament.   

The date for the 2017 National Elections issue of writs is April 20 and July 24 is the return of writs.

The O’Neill – Dion Government is expected to introduce the first reading to reduce the campaign period from two months to one, when Parliament reconvenes on January 24.

If the Government uses its numerical strength on the floor of Parliament to pass it, the date of the Issue of Writs for the 2017 National Elections on April 20, will be changed to May 20.

He made this call in a media conference this afternoon after an article of the deferment of Issue of Writs for the 2017 National Elections was published in The National Newspaper on Monday.        

 “The Electoral Commission has become a yoyo and a laughing stock to Papua New Guinea, as well as to the international community,” Polye said.