Gamato appeals for common sense

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato has appealed for common sense from candidates and against continuous campaigning after the eight weeks of campaign ended at midnight last Friday.

As most of the provinces have gone into polling, he said rallies and the use of loudhailers must stop.

The use of flyers and posters, on the other hand, can remain.

By law, eight to 12 weeks of campaigning options were given in which the Electoral Commission went with the minimum, which was eight weeks of campaigning.

Social media is a new medium that has taken campaigning to a whole new level. And while there is no law regulating the use of this medium in the elections, Commissioner Gamato is asking for common sense to prevail.

Gamato also clarified the main reasons behind the one-day polling for urban areas like NCDC, Kokopo, Lae and Madang.

He said double voting in the past has resulted in the Electoral Commission’s decision to conduct polling for one day in these centres. 

Author: 
Sally Pokiton