Moresby South

The first 16 ballot boxes are currently being presented by presiding and assistant presiding officers.

Moresby South Returning Officer Michael Are and his team aim to complete counting of a total of 96 ballot boxes.

This will be done by counting 16 ballot boxes per shift.

With three shifts per day, counting is expected to be completed within a week.

As at 3:40pm, the first 16 boxes have been presented without any disputes by scrutineers.

More to come.

(The first ballot box being opened)

Moresby South Returning Officer, Michael Are, just informed Loop PNG that counting should begin at 1pm – the latest.

Before speaking to Loop PNG, Are arrived with boxes of stationery for the counting officials.

In response to some of the formalities which counting officials say need to take place, Are said that will be done as soon as preparations for counting are done.

He added the mock counting was conducted yesterday.

Counting officials remain outside.

Despite reports that counting would begin this morning, this has not yet eventuated.

As it has been during the week, counting officials have turned up early only to be told to wait.

Meanwhile, inside, Electoral Commission staff are preparing the venue.

A counting official told Loop PNG that preparations should have been done yesterday and not today.

The official also said they don't expect counting to begin today because many formalities before the official counting have not taken place yet. One of them includes the mock counting exercise.

Many expressed anger at the polling venues at Sabama and Downtown Port Moresby after being turned away by officials.

They told Loop PNG that the final updated electoral roll does not contain their names.

Earlier this week, Electoral Commissioner, Patilias Gamato, announced that the 2012 and the 2017 preliminary roll will be used with the final 2017 roll after many people were turned away in several polling venues around the country.

By 6am today, polling teams camping at Kila Kila Secondary School headed out to their respective venues.

Loop PNG visited polling venues at Sabama and Downtown Port Moresby, noting a good turnout in both areas.

At Sabama, showers threatened to stop polling as there weren't proper tents to house polling booths as well as officials and security.

In downtown, polling began smoothly.

Incumbent Moresby South MP Justin Tkatchenko also cast his vote at the polling venue at the Port Moresby Police Station.

More updates to come....

Disgruntled residents said many of them took time off from work to vote today and said the last-minute announcement was the first-of-its-kind, criticising the Electoral Commission for the lack of planning.

Soon after the announcement by the Electoral Commission at around 9am, police officers arrived at several polling areas in the electorate to inform polling officials to pack up.

Polling was already underway at East Boroko and Manu when they were ordered to stop.

When addressing the media today, Tkatchenko said the last thing we want is a failed election.

He said this following reports of ballot papers floating around, as published on social media.

“We need to get to the bottom of it immediately,” Tkatchenko said.

“We cannot allow candidates doing these illegal practices when we have a democratic system that is being run for the benefit of our people.

“People must vote freely without being cheated by these actions.

Moresby South has three Wards. 

Polling for the Moresby South Open Electorate is for one day only – Tuesday, June 27.

Here is a list of polling venues provided by the PNG Electoral Commission for Moresby South.

The daughter of former Prime Minister the Late Sir William Skate said she decided to stage her first campaign rally where her late father grew up.

The Rabia settlement is made up of mostly settlers from the Baimuru area of Gulf Province.

Ms Skate is the only female candidate running against 40 male candidates including sitting member Justin Tkatchenko in the 2017 National Elections for Moresby South.

She said that she is not afraid to challenge the men in this election.

As of 4pm today, four candidates' nominations were accepted by the NCD's Election Manager and Returning Officer Terrence Hetinu,  who said nominations have been slow.

The first to nominate yesterday for North West was Micros Nea, an independent candidate at 4:47pm.

Today, former Chairman of Motu Koitabu Council Miria Ikupu nominated at 1:40pm. He will be running as an Independent candidate.