National General Elections

“Some of our voters in Kamono 1 LLGs ward 3, 4 and 5 of Kainantu have missed out in the polling. We've got problems with our roll and we need to fix it,” Kaupa said.

"Some wards in Okapa have also missed out as their names were not in the electoral roll."

Mr Kaupa suggested that a biometric voting system must be introduced in the country to help ease the issue of electoral roll.

He also mentioned that People Living With Disability and women were given first preference to cast their votes during polling.

Running second is independent candidate, Micah Vines with 1274 votes and third is former MP, Peter Wararu Waranaka with 872 votes. 

The only female candidate, Monica Hasimani, who is among the 16 males scored only one vote in the first count. 

According to Yangoru Saussia Returning officer, Francis Kambaka the counting continues today. 

Mr Kambaka said counting commenced late yesterday at  East Yangoru Council Chambers at Yangoru station. 

He said the counting officials had gone through a one-day training on Wednesday and started counting yesterday.

Returning Officer, Dilas Muli said yesterday evening that four teams under Bamu Local Level Government were sent out to their respective polling locations yesterday after they were turned away from bad weather.

He said 56 of the 60 polling teams have completed their polling over the weekend. Mr. Muli said he expects to have the teams return on the weekend and start counting hopefully by next week.

The new electorate has four LLGs:  

1. Aramia Gogodala LLG with 22 teams

2. Balimo Urban LLG 6 teams

3. Bamu LLG 6 teams

4. Fly Gogodala LLG 14 teams

All eyes and ears will be focused on the various counting locations in Alotau.

As of midday yesterday the Huhu Informal Market building was a hive of activity as Milne Bay Electoral Officers sorted out names of counting officials, allocated them to their various locations for counting and began training counting officials.

According to Assistant Returning Officer Ana Dugumi, the Milne Bay Regional Seat, Alotau, Samarai Murua, Esaala and Kiriwina Good Enough Open Seats will all be counted in Alotau at various venues.

Sinai updated the media on the mid polling period and completion of polling in the country.  He shared that polling has started well in the 22 provinces and in 118 electorates. 

“Since we started on the 4^th of July, the updates from last week till today show that polling has been done in 15 provinces across the country and polling is completed in 4 of the provinces which are Hela in the highlands region, East New Britain and New Ireland in NGI, and NCD in Southern region,” he shared.

Ballot boxes are being extracted from respective polling areas. According to the Election Manager, Peter Malaifeope, counting commences tomorrow.

“Counting is starting tomorrow and Friday. The maximum days for counting will be seven days and minimum of five days,” he said.

Counting for Kairuku Open will be at Murray Barracks, Hiri-Koiari electorate will also be at the Murray Barracks but a different vicinity.

The Bomana Training College is counting venue for Central Provincial, Rigo, Goilala Open and Abau counting.

Counting started with Ballot Box 3, containing votes from Volavolo, Ratavul, Karavia, Pilapila and Ratung wards in Balanataman LLG.

After Count 3, the progressive total votes:

Since the commencement date of polling on Tuesday 05^th, there had been a lot of delays and waiting for many reasons, one being the late delivery of fuel for all modes of transportation, bad weather, and unavailability of a chopper to transport polling teams to remote East Sepik.

These were some of the concerns raised by both the Election Manager and the Provincial Returning Officer on behalf of presiding officers and polling teams.

Returning Officer Roland Popunurea said polling has been progressing well with the most common complaints being that of unregistered voters in the electoral roll.

Polling in Central Nakanai LLG went smoothly despite those that disapproved of not having the opportunity to vote.

In an interview on Thursday, Assistant Returning Officer, Apolosa Kwabu confirmed that Nakanai LLG had two teams who completed polling in a day.

His children had voted in the previous election, but were unable to do so this year. The incumbent Huon Gulf MP was at Zifasing on Wednesday to cast his vote.

His home village, which is in Morobe’s ward 19 of Wampar Rural LLG, has over 2,500 eligible voters. However, only 1,780 names were in the electoral roll.

“It’s happening everywhere in the Huon Gulf District,” he stated. “Less papers; a lot of our people are not voting. “My kids voted in 2017. In 2022, they do not have names. I think I’m lucky to have my name there to vote.