Wewak Urban LLG

The said this is so because the number of voters who voted is much lower than expected eligible voter number.

Ward 8 Councillor for Moem in Wewak Rural LLG was one frustrated Ward Councilor on the count of his people not exercising their democratic right to vote, especially those young people who just became of voting age, while on the other end, unnecessary harassments on the polling officials.

Ernest Ikau, Ward Councilor of Moem Ward 8, said the people were not happy with the way the Electoral Commission conducted the updates of the electoral roll.

Ward 9 Presiding Officer, Everlyn Nawara, said many frustrated voters were turned away, including some senior public servants. 

Loop PNG caught up with the Ward 9 polling team at Kreer Heights on Friday, the last day of polling for the ward.

Nawara said for the 2017 National Elections, 559 eligible voters were on the roll. 

Many residents of Kreer Heights said the total voter number on the roll is half the number of eligible voters.

That is the confirmation from East Sepik Provincial Election Manager Kila Ralai.

Ralai said out of the 17 designated polling areas, only 9 have already polled.

He added that polling for Wewak Urban will be completed today. 

The provincial election manager said cancellation of polling on Wednesday, and shortage of ballot papers, are the cause of delay in completion of polling on Thursday. 

Ralai gave an example of polling at team 102 at Yawasoro.

Polling will be held today because of shortage of ballot papers.

(File pic)