THE Electoral Commission is ready to conduct the national election and will not defer the dates set for the issuing of writs.
Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen’s office last Friday confirmed that electoral officers and the common rolls were ready.
In response to questions sent by The National, the Electoral Commissioner’s media adviser Mark Karambi said no one, including the Electoral Commission could delay, postpone or defer the dates for the issue of writs for a general election.
“The law is precisely clear. The dates for the issue of writs were fixed under the Constitution and as such, only Parliament can change it by amending the Constitution on the Organic Law on National and Local Level Government elections. Amending the Constitution over the current time frame is practically impossible,” Mr Karambi said.
He said discretionary powers of the electoral commissioner only borders on administrative and operational aspects of the conduct of the general election after the issue of writs.
“There appears to be a slight confusion on the application of PNGEC’s discretionary powers. These powers are only exercised during the election process.
“The PNGEC is a constitutional office and the commissioner cannot be directed by the NEC or the Government,” he said.
Mr Karambi further confirmed that verification of all preliminary electoral rolls throughout the country had been completed and field data were now being entered into the main database.
“All electoral rolls would be ready before the issuing of writs on May 4,” Mr Karambi said.

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