By SAMPSON BONAI
THE Morobe provincial government will need K4 million to run this year’s local level government (LLG) elections.
Chairman of the provincial steering committee and deputy administrator Patilias Gamato said last Friday that the provincial administration had allocated K100,000 for this purpose.
But it would need the bulk from the National Government to administer the elections in 33 LLG areas and 568 wards.
He said that they would use last year’s common rolls to conduct the elections.
The issue of writs have been tentatively marked for April 17 with the nomination of candidates to close on April 23.
Voting will begin on May 17 and end on June 21 before writs are returned on June 30.
All LLG managers will be assistant returning officers and three returning officers will be appointed to look after Fisika, Central and Bulolo-Menyamya areas.
Fisika covers Finschhafen, Tewai-Siassi and Kabwum; Central covers Lae, Huon, Nawae and Markham; and Bulolo-Menyamya covers the two districts respectively
According to Mr Gamato, two elections would be held at the same time to elect the presidents and the ward councillors.
The nomination fee is K200 which has to be paid at the district and provincial treasuries.
Assistant returning officers will only receive the receipt of the payments of the nomination fees to officially accept the nominations.
Mr Gamato said they would use two different ballot papers in different colours as “we don’t want to confuse the voters”.
The election steering committee will hold fortnightly meetings until the LLG elections are held.
Morobe provincial election manager Simon Sinai said they would use the same ballot boxes but would need new plastic seals from overseas.