Counting for the NCD regional seat has been delayed to 8pm tonight.
This is because the presiding officer of ward 10 (North Waigani/Morata area) needs to verify and confirm the number of ballot boxes from their counting venues before it goes into the counting arena.
Ballot boxes of some of the wards for the regional seat are currently awaiting confirmation from the presiding officers.
This is also to make it easy for counting officials to get straight to counting when the boxes are moved in.
So far, there are only 28 ballot boxes for ward 10 when 30 boxes are expected.
This is the reason why the presiding officer needs to be present to verify and confirm if there were any changes made to the polling venues, which caused the change in the number of ballot boxes present.
According to the election manager, the presiding officers are on their way to the counting venue and the issue is expected to be resolved this afternoon for NCD regional seat counting to resume.