810 enrolment agents have been deployed this morning for the biggest roll update to be done in the Nation’s Capital.
These enrolment agents have been in training for the last month and will be dispatched to over 200 locations in the city.
Election Manager Terence Hetinu compared the enrolment roll updating scenario to what it used to be in the past, when enrolment agents went from house to house to update the roll.
This year will be different.
“This time around, we have seen that the process has not given any credibility to the electoral roll that we see today.”
Hetinu says there are people who try to manipulate the system and abuse the process by enrolling multiple names or ghost names (names that no longer exist).
“These names inflate the roll and are then used again during election period in favour of the candidates they want. Port Moresby is no exception to that sort of practice,” says Hetinu.
As a result of this malpractice, agents will no longer be going from house to house to update the roll but will be stationed at central spots in city for people to check for their names and update any information, if need be.
The agents will be located at populated areas where people can have access to, like school grounds and playing fields, including market areas.
The enrolment roll update exercise will run for the next 14 days starting today, with an extra 7 days in case of emergency or necessary security issues.