PNG Electoral Commission clarifies that candidates' photos and box numbers are not printed on voter’s ballot papers.
PNGEC Media Officer Alphonse Muapi made this clarification after posts on social media questioning why ballot papers for the 2017 National Election had been printed without candidates not yet confirmed.
The nomination for intending candidates for the 111 seats in Parliament will open after the Issue of Writs by the Governor-General in nine days’ time.
“Candidate posters are generated and produced separately, and contain candidate photos, their names and code numbers are allocated after the order of draw at the close of nominations,” Muapi told Loop PNG.
“Candidate posters will be printed and placed inside polling booths (voting compartments) for voters to see and correctly mark their three preferences on the ballot papers.
“Candidate posters will also be placed around the polling places for voters to see their preferred candidates before they go in and cast their votes.
“Candidate posters are produced from photographs candidates submitted along with Form 29 (Candidate Bio-Data).”
Ballot papers for the election printed in Indonesia were brought into the country last week, and kept at an undisclosed location in Port Moresby.
Meanwhile, the Issue of Writs and Nomination for intending candidates is on April 20. Nomination fee is K1,000.
Nomination closes at 4pm on April 27.
There will be eight weeks of campaign period from April 20 – June 23.
Polling will run from June 24 – July 8.
Return of Writs of the election must be before July 24.
(Picture source from PNG Electoral Commission)