PNG Electoral Commission (PNGEC)

He said candidates have this week to polish up and do their final campaigning.

Sinai said all campaign activities including movement of people and staging rallies will end on Friday. He urged candidates to observe and respect electoral laws by removing loud hailers and speakers mounted on their vehicles after Friday in readiness for polling which starts on 4 July 2022.

The Commissioner said polling will not be conducted on Saturday and Sunday (July 2-3), as these are considered days of worship and is protected by law.

The boxes are currently being held at the Mendi Police Station in Southern Highlands Province, along with additional non-sensitive election materials.

Commissioner Sinai said, “I confirm that on 22 June 2022, I instructed that the PNGEC logistics convoy redirect two containers of empty metal ballot boxes from Southern Highlands to Hela and Enga Provinces for the following reasons:

On May 31, 2022, the Supreme Court in its interpretation of Section 103 (3) (e) of the Constitution, settled the legal position that a person cannot contest the National General Elections and be qualified to be a member of Parliament if he/she is convicted of an indictable offence that carries a sentence of imprisonment for more than 9 months, effective from June 25 2002.

The only two exceptions to this interpretation are unless the conviction and sentence has been quashed by the Supreme Court or the convicted person has been pardoned under section 151 of the Constitution.

He said nearly 6000 polling teams will be deployed throughout the country.

In releasing the final polling schedule report on Thursday 16 June, Commissioner Sinai said polling will commence on 4 July 2022 and will be conducted in 6396 wards covering 346 Local Level Government council areas across the country.

The Commissioner said around 47,704 temporary election workers (TEWs) will be engaged to work with the 5,963 polling teams to conduct polling throughout the country.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said in the country’s prior election of 2017, a total candidacy of 3,340 saw just five percent of women listed.

According to the PNG Electoral Commission, of the 179 female candidates that contested in 2017, 117 ran as independents while 62 were party endorsed.

This new election period has seen a surge of political parties (as at 30 May) endorsing more women candidates than in previous years.

Yesterday Parliament unanimously accepted the 2021 Electoral Boundaries Commission (EBC) Recommendations and Maps (EBC Report). In the report, seven new electorates were enacted with their respective elections to be held this year.

The electorates are; Delta Fly, Hiri-Koiari, Popondetta, Nakanai, Wau-Waria, Komo-Hulia and Porgera-Paiela.

Six new electorates were also enacted with their respective elections to be held in the 2027 National General Elections. They are; Baniara, Motu-Koitabu, Baining, Middle Sepik, Mendi Central and Anglimp.

This was part of its ongoing Building Elections Integrity through Partnership Project (BEIP), funded under the PNG-Australia Partnership for Development.

During the awareness meetings with public officials, police, youth and churches, and citizens, serious concerns regarding the Electoral Roll Update were expressed. Apparently, the Electoral Roll Update exercise has not commenced and is lacking coordination through the Central Provincial Election Steering Committee.

The New Ireland Provincial Administrator and Chairman of the Provincial Election Steering Committee, Lamiller Pawut, called on the Electoral Commission exercising its Constitutional rights by charging individuals and political parties attempting to defraud the State and citizens of PNG on updates concerning the Common Roll allegedly to help the Commission.

Moreover, ensure that this appointment is formalized in accordance with the Organic Law on National and Local Level Government Elections Sections 5 and 7.

While Prime Minister, Jame Marape has restated his position during the Parliament sitting on Wednesday, 17^th of November that the elections will proceed as planned.

Court has ordered the electoral commission present their plans and budget.

Mr Sinai said on Friday 27^th August that he approved the appointments of the Returning Officer and Assistant Returning Officers for the recount exercise.

The Acting Commissioner confirmed that ballot boxes have arrived in Mendi. The PNGEC are working with relevant partners such as the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) for election operations.

He also stated that the venue is yet to be decided.

Sinai said, “Venue to be in one of these places, Hagen or Goroka.”