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.
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