By Harlyn Joku

Many eligible voters may not have enrolled due to lack of time and funding according to the PNG Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai.

Commissioner Simon Sinai explained in an 8 paged National General Election Update report delivered on Sunday at a press conference that the issue of enrolment is not because the EC lacked effort.

“The PNGEC was prepared to update the roll since 2021; however, adequate and timely funding to implement the roll update was delayed and accessible only in January 2022,” he said.

“I am aware of the concerns and questions expressed by voters and stakeholders related to the electoral roll and that not all eligible voters may have enrolled, because the Electoral Commission had limited time.

“As a result, the roll update for the election was conducted with barely three months before the issue of writs in May 2022, the date when the roll closes to new enrolments, with exceptions from nominated candidates.

“Regardless the PNGEC updated and prepared the electoral roll with as many voters included as was possible in the limited time period.

“Using the 2019 Local Level Government election roll as the baseline, the PNGEC updated the electoral roll as follows;

• Approximately 695,000 new enrolments were added, about 57 percent of the new enrolments were young voters between 18 and 24 years old. The total number of electors for the 2022 national general election is 5.7 million, which represents a 9 percent overall growth recorded compared to 6 percent during the 2017 election.

• The PNGEC launched a voter lookup platform on its website and provided a mobile look up application on android phones, where voters can check their enrolment status and where they registered to vote. “I invite voters to check their names on these platforms,” Mr Sinai said.

The Commissioner admitted more can be done to improve the electoral roll.

He assured that after the 2022 national election, the PNGEC stands ready to engage in consultations with government authorities at all levels to improve and advance the electoral roll.

The Lae District court has struck out the case of Finschhafen’s Hube LLG Assistant Returning Officer, Kamis Connery on Monday. 

According to Morobe’s Election Manager and Provincial Returning Officer, Simon Soheke, the court has asked the Prosecution to seek further instructions from the Electoral Commission and legal Counsel to further proceed with the matter.

Connery was charged for interfering with ballot papers on Friday, 08th July. 

According to police investigations through Morobe’s Provincial Police Commander, Jacob Singura, the ARO allegedly transported the ballot papers to his residence at Gagidu without advising the security zone commander for Finschhafen, Siasi and Kabwum, before transporting the ballot papers to Pindiu Station on Sunday, 03rd of July 2022.

Police was later informed through the polling officials and scrutineers that ballot papers for Kotec LLG were hijacked and over 500 ballot papers for one of the ward were missing and was later identified by Police in the possession of a nursing officer assigned as a polling official.

Meanwhile, polling for Finschhafen District commenced yesterday 12th July.

West New Britain Provincial Returning Officer Emily Kelton has publicly announced that counting will begin tomorrow (Wednesday 13th July).

Kelton said Nakanai electorate will be first since completing polling in its four local level governments. 

WNB Provincial Returning Officer, Emily Kelton.

“I’ve allowed for Wednesday to give enough time to the Presiding Officers to complete their journals and other reports before counting commences,” said Kelton.

PRO Kelton said preparation at the counting venue is progressing. She said counting for Nakanai will begin at 8am right to the night. 

“Following the completion of counting for Nakanai Open Seat, we will then move to Talasea then Kandrian Gloucester and the Regional Seat will be last,” said PRO Kelton.

For Talasea, Kelton said counting will begin with Kimbe Urban and Talasea Rural.

“We will begin with Kimbe Urban and Talasea Rural while awaiting arrival of ballot boxes from Bali Vitu LLG, ” said Kelton. 

Bali Vitu should complete polling by Wednesday then the ballot boxes will be airlifted to Kimbe, Kelton said.

The WNB PRO said Kandrian Gloucester is expected to complete polling today(Tuesday 12th July) then ballot boxes will be airlifted to Kimbe.

“We expect Gasmata, Kandrian inland and coastal to complete by Tuesday. Kalia Kove completed polling yesterday and polling officials and materials will travel by boat to Kimbe,” Kelton said.

“Once all ballot boxes for Kandrian Gloucester are here and checked, counting will start”, added Kelton.

The WNB PRO also highlighted that since counting for the three open seats are done at different times, the Regional Seat will be last to do it’s elimination.

“We will start by counting in the LLG’s, Districts then Provincial. This is the overall counting plan for West New Britain,” said Kelton.

All counting will be done at the White House tent near the Sasindran Muthuvel Stadium in Kimbe Town.

While violence and other election related issues were reported across polling in Moresby North-East, some voters at Ward 5 (Apex Park) did not cast their votes.

Polling officials stopped polling around 6pm, recounted the ballot box with scrutineers then sealed it off and went away.

A working mother said the system is just unfair. Mary John expressed concerns that there was enough time left for some of the residents to vote.

“Why are you stopping us to vote? We were out whole day at our work place. I came here at 5pm to join the que to vote. Now I am denied,” said Mrs John.

She said according to her family who came earlier the day to vote, the polling stations were filled with people not from around the Ward 5 area.

Mrs John said most had to attend to their office work after days of deferral by the Electoral Commission last week. She said she knocked off at 4pm at work and had to travel home to vote at Apex Park.

“This is not fair, I pay tax, I contribute to the economy of the city and the country,” said John.

A voter told Inside PNG the polling officials came around midday. He said voters came early as 8am to vote.

“We came early but waited for almost four hours. The EC officials were late. They had the whole week last week to prepare. Polling started late and finished early,” said Peter Nofe.

Nofe said EC should be blamed for this madness. He said those responsible must be sacked.

“This election is not fair. We keep on emphasizing for a free and fair elections every five years. But it’s not”, said Mr Nofe.

Meanwhile a youth told Inside PNG he voted more than twice today. He said there was no common roll used.

“I voted at 12pm, 3pm and 5pm. Once my hand was inked, I went back home, washed the ink using detergent then came back to vote another candidate. The six polling stations made it easy for me to take turns and vote,” he said.

He confidently said the polling officials and security personnel were not strict. The youth said all they were doing was to ensure people stand in line and are given ballot papers to vote.

“I did vote three times but chose to vote different candidates. It’s up to them now to count and finalize the winning candidate,” he said.

The youth said the 2017 national election was totally different. “I voted once in 2017, but not in 2022. I believe with no proper common roll and identification checks, many of us were able to vote more than once.

I know it’s not right but the process has allowed me and the others,” he said.

Polling in Moresby North-East commenced today after being deferred last week. 

Many turned up in numbers to cast their votes. 

Polling began just after lunch following the arrival of ballot boxes, polling materials and security personnel.

But there is overwhelming concern from the voting population regarding common roll and voter identification.

James Ipu is a PLWD who has lived for more than 20 years in the city. He said unlike 2017, the number of voters has increased. 

“I stood in line for a very long time to vote. This was not the case here in 2017. There was no line for PLWD’s. I can see that people from other electorates are also here to vote,” said Mr Ipu.

Ipu said anyone and everyone can just come here and vote. No proper checks are done, he added.

“But I am happy I did choose my desired candidates for the Open Seat and NCD Regional but I am also concerned that there are no proper name checks which by law the electoral commission officials should know. 

“This is unfair and not right. I am not sure if things will turn out ok after polling”, Ipu said. 

Meanwhile a scrutineer was pulled to the side and questioned by a police officer at one of the polling booth at Apex Park. 

According to Ben Austrai, police accused him of double voting. 

Mr Austrai told Inside PNG News, he stood inline the whole morning just to vote and then do his duty as a scrutineer. 

“I am yet to cast my vote, the police officer saw me standing here all this time. My opportunity to exercise my constitutional rights is now gone,” Mr Austrai said. 

Mr Austrai’s scrutineer identification was stripped off by the police and his ballot papers squashed and stored away. 

He told Inside PNG News, he is frustrated and left the polling area and went home. 

Five polling booths were established at the Apex Park for Moresby North East residents to cast their votes. The booths were categorised into alphabetical order for residents to follow and cast their votes.

From eye witness statements, a bulk of the people present today are either from Moresby North West or Moresby South. 

A concern mother said the EC officials are not doing the right thing. She said people are being told to stand in line and just vote.

“This is not fair, you can clearly see that election laws are not followed. I believe the election in MNE is rigged,” she said.

Inside PNG also spoke to a number of workers who came out to vote during their lunch hour. 

An elderly man described the polling booths as chaotic. He compared today’s event with 2017.

” Where did all these people come from? This place was not full like this in the past national election. Now I can’t stand in line and vote,” he said.

The 40 year old said with polling expected to be completed today, he may not be given the chance to vote. 

“It’s the same picture I see in all polling booths in the Moresby North East Open elections. I have driven to more than four polling stations in the Boroko area and everywhere is full. 

I may not vote this time but am eager to see the counting for MNE and see if the numbers will correspond. I see that there is such much discrepancies, he added.

This year 2022 is the fourth time the Manam Islanders living on the island and in the three care-centers will cast their votes. Yet their votes have not made a difference in their fight to be resettled at a permanent location in order to rebuild their lives.

Voters in Iabu LLG in Asuramba Care-center in the Bogia District of Madang say they no longer are living in care-centers but in settlements.

Former Iabu LLG President, Nelson Mambote, says the population in the care-centers has increased since the late 2004 to early 2005 evacuation following the major eruption on the island.

Life in the care-centers has not improved thus most of the internally displaced islanders have expressed dissatisfaction with successive governments failure to resettle them.

Mambote says the displaced community are no longer willing to cast their votes as leaders tend to neglect their plight after being elected.

He says despite the government’s neglect on Manam issues the displaced community continue to cast their votes.

Catholic Mama President, Elizabeth Kepata, says all women and young girls in the care-center must cast their votes. She is adamant to have all their names included in the roll update.

Kepata says life in the care-center is a constant struggle especially for women who are struggling to provide food for their families on a daily basis.

Thus most women in there want to cast their votes to elect a leader that will raise the Manam issues on the floor of parliament and fast track the resettlement exercise.

Kepata explains for 18 years the displaced islanders have been living on the care-centers without any government support. 

Another displaced islander, Cathy Tola, told InsidePNG, she has three children and it is difficult to look after her family in the care-center.

Tola says she has been living on someone else’s land and as population the grows, it ha not been easy as the struggle put more stress on parents to sustain their homes.

Tola says the internally displaced islanders continue to cast their votes on leaders who continue to neglect their plight.

This year the displaced communities are eager to cast their votes on a leader that will address bring a closure to the 18 years of neglect.

However, Tola says most of their names are not in the roll update depriving them of their right to cast their votes.

Meanwhile, Dominic Kasira, says most of the young men and women in the care-centers do not want to cast their votes.

Kasira says this is because this year marks the fourth time the internally displaced islanders cast their vote since their evacuation from Manam island in 2004.

He said most of the young voting population believe they are wasting their time to vote for leaders who do not care about Manam issues.

It was an early start for polling on Friday at the Ward 7 area of Hohola in the Moresby North-West Electorate in the Nation’s Capital.

Six polling booths were set up including a booth for people living with disabilities. Security was provided by police as polling officials went through a thorough exercise with scrutineers on the polling equipment which included ballot boxes, tags, seals, ballot papers and serial numbers.

Once all that was clear, polling began around 10am. It was peaceful without much drama as voters were able to exercise their democratic right due to the gender specific lines created.

A frustrated few were turned away or asked to take their grievances to the Electoral Commission for not having their names on the common roll. It was however good news for the next generation of voters as the youth were able to exercise their democratic right for the first time.

Nineteen-year-old, Monica Anthony was nervous but nonetheless excited to be part of nation building and explains her reason for voting.

A 42-year-old man is appealing for mandated leaders to equally consider People Living With Special Needs in every decision making.

Michael Overyamo spoke to Inside PNG camera operator, Frank Mogona after casting his vote at Tokarara Secondary School for the Moresby North-West Open Seat in NCD.

Overyamo expressed concerns that in the past 20 years PLWD’s have been neglected or ignored.

“I purposely came to vote for a leader who can bring to attention of the Parliament and policy makers that People Living With Special Needs are part of the community and must be inclusive in any form of service delivery,” Overyamo said.

“A good example is the PMV bus service in the city. You can’t find a seat that will accommodate the conditions of PLWD’s. Our public transport system is one of the priority areas. Our leaders must consider the different forms of disability by people in Papua New Guinea,” uttered Overyamo.

In most schools you hardly see stairs of classrooms to cater for students using a wheelchair or crutches. And there are so many others I can think of,” Overyamo said.

The Government must consider our plight.

We are part of the country and economy, we must be considered in all decisions made by all levels of Government”, said Overyamo.

“I appealed to any leader who will be in the 11th House of Parliament to be fair to us. Understand us, help us and build or provide the necessary infrastructure for us to access and use,” Mr Overyamo said.

Despite losing his eye sight, he was thrilled to make his way to the Tokarara school premises for polling.

He joined many residents of the Moresby North-West electorate who also voted during the day.

A close relative assisted him to cast his preferred choice of leaders for the MNW seat and NCD Regional.

Overyamo is originally from the Eastern Highlands Province but has been a resident in June Valley for over 40-years.

A senior Correctional Service officer in West New Britain says the current common roll used is outdated resulting in most eligible voters missing out on polling.

Lakiemata Prison Deputy Commanding Officer, Senior Inspector, Leo Hura said many did not exercise their constitutional rights and its unfair.

Inspector Hura said this was the only hiccup during polling at the prison grounds.

“They need to update the common roll, many did not find their names and were frustrated at the polling station,” said Inspector Hura.

He said this must not be the scenario in the next national general election.

The CS officer said this concern is alarming.

Meanwhile Inspector Hura said CS officers, their families and the inmates in an orderly fashion, came out in numbers to cast their votes.

Similar concerns were raised by the Nakanai Returning Officer, Roland Popunurea. He said despite this the polling teams were able to see polling progressing.

“We have 44 teams in Nakanai Open Electorate. So far five polling teams have been completed. Ubili, Lolobau, Kabaia, Soi and Wilelo. These areas have completed their polling,” said Popunurea.

The Nakanai RO said Hoskins LLG is expected to complete polling by Friday with Barema in East Nakanai.

Meanwhile in Kalia Kove LLG reports received from the ARO, Ben Penfa indicated that polling at Wards 4, 5 and 6 were disrupted for two days by fighting amongst supporters of candidates.

Reports state that the fight saw polling officials chased away and seeking refuge.

ARO Penga suspended polling for the three Teams and requested for immediate deployment of Police and PNGDF Response Unit to attend and restore order.

Penga said if tension slows down and safety is guaranteed, the three polling teams will be dispatched to complete polling.

According to local media, reinforcements have travelled to Kaliai Kove on Friday.

Incumbent Moresby North-East Open, MP John Kaupa is concerned about the administration of the 2022 National General Election in the electorate. 

He spoke to a few journalist hours after the resignation of MNE RO, Billy George and the deferral of polling.

Kaupa said the delay by those mandated to run the affairs of the election is disappointing and unlawful.

“Continuous deferral of the polling will be costly to the Electoral Commission Office, candidates and concerned stakeholders,” said Kaupa.

He said if the RO has resigned he should be recalled, the whole electoral team to run the election in Moresby North-East must be replaced. 

“A new team must be appointed to run the polling to counting and declaration. This includes RO’s and ARO’s. A neutral team of election officials must be appointed,” said Kaupa.

He called on the Electoral Commissioner to do the right thing, he said.

Kaupa also raised concerns that last minute changes in polling stations are very suspicious and questionable. 

“The Electoral Commissioner must not take this lightly, deferring the polling a number of times added by discrepancies in ballot paper numbers and other election matters indicate the manipulation of people with individual interest,” said Kaupa.

Kaupa is defending the Moresby North-East seat for his second term in Parliament. He was voted into office in 2017. 

He is endorsed by the incumbent Government led by Pangu Party Leader and Prime Minister, James Marape. 

Earlier in the week, Kaupa was accused of transporting ballot boxes using a police officer and his home raided early by a joint operation of discipline forces. He denied this news describing it as false and misleading. 

The Pangu candidate said the Electoral Commission must fix this mess and allow people to poll and elect their chosen leader.