ballot papers

Journalist threatened over election coverage

Journalist in-charge of NBC Manus, Reilly Kanamon, was threatened on Monday afternoon outside his office over alleged rumours of seven ballot boxes being smuggled into the province.

Kanamon was confronted by two supporters of a candidate in the province and threatened to break open the NBC Manus office and beat all the staff.

This comes after speculations and rumours went viral on social media regarding the ballot papers.

However, Manus Police and Election officials ruled out those Facebook rumours on Monday.

VIDEO: EHP and Shimbu ballot papers received

Polling for these two provinces will be on the 26th of this month.

Election Managers from the two Provinces have confirmed receiving all election materials including the ballot papers. 

 

More from Charmaine Poriambep

Ballot papers arrive in Manus

Manus Police Provincial Commander, Chief Inspector David Yapu, said two small Australian Air Force aircraft arrived in Manus on Saturday with the ballot papers.

The ballot papers were received by Electoral Commission staff with heavy security escort from the Joint Security Forces at Momote.

The ballot papers are locked up in the storage container at the Police Station and PPC Yapu said tight security will be provided until June 23, where they will be moved to the respective polling venues.

Ballot papers still being held in POM

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato said, “ballot papers will be unpacked and repacked in the coming weeks according to enrolment figures for each electorate, LLG and wards.

“They will be dispatched two weeks prior to commencement of polling on 24th June.”

All ballot papers since arriving from Indonesia have been kept at an undisclosed location.

The 2017 National Election campaign period will end on June 23, followed by 14 days of polling.  

Gamato said, PNG Electoral Commission projected a voter turnout of 4.7 million eligible voters.

Papers’ security will not be compromised: EC

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato made this comment after PNGEC would not disclose the location of the 11 containers of ballot papers.

“They will be under tight guard by Police and Army in a secured place,” Gamato told Loop PNG last week.  

The Electoral Commissioner said in the next one-and-a-half months, the ballot papers will be unpacked from the containers, repacked according to enrolment numbers for each provinces, and dispatched two weeks prior to the commencement of polling on June 24.

Gamato clarifies confusion on ballot papers

Gamato has clarified that the ballot papers had already been printed before candidates’ nomination for the 2017 National Elections had opened.

“Candidate photographs are not placed on the ballot papers and are different from candidate posters,” the EC said.

“Candidate posters will contain candidate photographs and code numbers, which will be allocated after the order of draw when nominations close on April 27, 2017.”

The Electoral Commissioner said this was the same practice that was applied in the 2007 and 2012 elections.

Candidates' box numbers, photos printed separately

PNGEC Media Officer Alphonse Muapi made this clarification after posts on social media questioning why ballot papers for the 2017 National Election had been printed without candidates not yet confirmed.

The nomination for intending candidates for the 111 seats in Parliament will open after the Issue of Writs by the Governor-General in nine days’ time.      

“Candidate posters are generated and produced separately, and contain candidate photos, their names and code numbers  are allocated after the order of draw at the close of nominations,” Muapi told Loop PNG.

Ballot papers kept in ‘undisclosed location’

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato confirmed with Loop PNG that “ballot papers arrived on Tuesday and had been cleared (on Wednesday)”.

Gamato said on Thursday, containers containing the papers were taken to a highly secured location in Port Moresby where they are now heavily guarded by police and military personnel.

He said in the next one-and-a-half months, the ballot papers will be repacked according to enrolment figures and dispatched to each province, two weeks prior to commencement of polling on June 24.

Election ballot papers arrive in PNG

The election materials were printed in Indonesia.

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato confirmed to Loop PNG that “ballot papers arrived on Tuesday and have been cleared.

 “They will be under tight guard by Police and Army in a secured place.”

Because of the security protocol, the PNG Electoral Commission will not disclose the location where the ballot papers are being kept for safe keeping for voting in June.   

Ballot papers to arrive this week: Gamato

The ballot papers are printed in Indonesia.

Gamato, in a brief to Governor-General Bob Dadae, said printing of writs for all the electorates is now underway and will be ready before April 20th, 2017, when the GG officially issues the writs.

He said the Governor General will sign 666 writs, and about 2,000 candidates have expressed interest to contest the national elections.