By election

Samarai-Murua by-election counting starts today

It will be held at Cameroon Secondary School at Alotau after the completion of polling on the island’s electorate last Friday.

The PNG Electoral Commission had advised that the counting will be done manually with no electorate verification to the ballot papers.

May 27 is the date for the issue of writs.

Twelve candidates are contesting for the vacant seat, among them a lone female.