2022 National General Elections

Confusion arose around polling venues at Nawaeb Urban when the seal of the ballot box was broken to reveal Lae Open ballot papers.

Nawaeb Urban covers wards 11 to 17 in the Ahi LLG; areas from Malahang, Busu Compound, Limki Market, Speedway, Kamkumung and Igam and Bumayong.

The presiding officer of team 340, based at the Second-Seven field, Sismai Tilim, said they faced the ballot paper issue at 10am today.

The venues at Three and Four Mile, including the outside premises of the National Polytechnic Institute of PNG, had voters gathering there before sunrise.

Residents around that area said the noise woke them up from their sleep, and they were quite alarmed with the crowd buildup.

An argument soon started between the crowd and security guards at Polytech; the latter refused to let the public in for fear of damage to school properties.

A group of police vehicles soon turned up and controlled the crowd, clearing the driveway into the institute.

PPC Felix Nebanat welcomed 42 PNG Defence Force personnel at the Kavieng Airport on Friday, July 1^st.

The PPC voiced his confidence in the joint security forces.

“The arrival of the military is a manifestation of what I have been reiterating for the last couple of weeks about New Ireland having an equipped force for NATEL 2022,” he stated.

“It gives me peace of mind and great reassurance that the joint security force under my command is more than capable of running a safe, free, fair and transparent election.

According to the election official, the ballot papers were removed from the containers to be destroyed to give space to store the new ballot papers for this year. The ballot papers were removed and taken to Mero Dump where the papers were burnt and destroyed.

The security personnel, election officials and the public witnessed the destroying of the ballot papers.

Provincial Returning Officer, Joab Voivoi said when the campaign period concluded on Friday July 1, respective returning officers with assistant returning officers have been busy preparing their teams for the first day of polling tomorrow.

“Hopefully every polling team should finish polling on Friday July 8 according to their polling schedules,” he said.

ENB has 135 polling teams that have been trained and ready to be dispatched to the 526 polling venues. The province has a total of 18 LLGs and 380 wards.

He made this announcement at a press conference held on Friday July 1, at the Electoral headquarters in Port Moresby.

EC Sinai explained that the delays in the announcement of the dates of elections were due to administration issues and the movement of budget needed for the delivery of the elections. But that has been sorted and the EC is ready to flow.

Gulf Provincial and Kerema Police Station Commander, Sergeant Michael Pakyei in a briefing last Friday said the week’s preparation was concentrated on airfares for security personnel travelling into the hinterlands of Gulf, which was set up as of Friday, July 1st.

Over 300 security personnel are on the ground to oversee safety during the polling and counting period, they include Mobile squad, Correctional Service officers, PNG Defence Force and Water Police from Port Moresby. Kerema police will be dispatched to escort the visiting officers and reservists. 

Morobe Election Manager, Simon Soheke, clarified that the polling date, which was initially set for Tuesday, July 5^th, has been brought back to Monday.

“Campaigning will end tomorrow, Friday, July 1^st,” he stated.

“By midnight, all political rallies, campaigning using loudhailers and candidates’ gatherings must cease by tomorrow.

“On Saturday and Sunday, we will have an in-depth look at the candidates and on Monday, we’ll go into the polls.”

He said when Parliament adopted the Electoral Boundaries Commission report in its last Parliament session in May and voted for creation of seven new electorates and have them certified to be included in the 2022 national elections, the ballot papers had already been printed based on the initial request to cover 111 electorates.

“Therefore, we had to seek Australia's assistance again through the Australian High Commission to cater for the increase in the number of Parliamentary seats and to reprint the ballot papers for seven affected electorates and seven new electorates.

The Assistant Commissioner of Police Northern Command Peter Guinness said a section of the Mobile Squad in Lae will also be deployed to Madang to boost security manpower in the province. He said soldiers and the MS will be deployed to various parts of the province.

Madang Province has six districts - Madang, Sumkar, Bogia, Middle Ramu, Rai Coast and Usino Bundi. According to the Electoral Commission’s polling schedule, voting will start in the province on Monday 4^th July.