PNG Electoral Commision

​Candidates’ numbers expected to decrease

PNG Electoral Commission media officer, Alphonse Muapi, said all details must be correct before PNGEC releases the final listing.  

He said the accurate information will be used to print candidates’ posters, which will be used by voters to identify them when casting their votes.

The number of candidates contesting the general election this year has been reduced from 3,332 after the nomination period, to 3,324.

EC will not tolerate unapproved services

Commissioner Patilias Gamato says a pre-qualification tender was conducted in August and the list of service providers should be finalised soon so that the commissioner knows who they are dealing with.

“People have applied and we’ll finalise that and have that ready so come next election next year, we know exactly which people we are dealing with,” said Gamato.

The Electoral Commissioner has been flooded with claims of outstanding bills owed to service providers, some dating as far back as the last two general elections.

Electoral Roll update to begin this month

“It is expected that by November 2016 all data collected in the districts should be sent from the field to data entry centre in the respective Provincial Headquarters for data entry to be done,” Gamato said.

Six provinces have completed their second level of training of Returning Officers, Assistant Returning Officers and LLG Supervisors in preparation for voter enrolment.

These provinces include East Sepik, Northern, West New Britain, East New Britain, Milne Bay and Central.