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Enga voters’ list could spell trouble
By PETER KORUGL and PETER PIA
THE problematic common roll in
Enga province could spark trouble among the voters who are going to the
polls today.
This was the biggest concern among the province’s election managers as
the names of eligible voters have not been listed in tribal or clan
groupings like in previous elections.
Provincial election manager Henry Kyakas said the list of names in the
common roll in this election had been arranged in alphabetical order
which could be confusing for clan voters.
“And this could spark trouble among the voters,” he said. “They are
listed in alphabetical order and the names are all mixed up. This is
confusing for the voters.”
Mr Kyakas said while many may find the new arrangement of names in the
common roll easy to understand, it could be very confusing for the
illiterate voters who were used to the old listing system where they
voted in their tribal or clan groupings.
But Mr Kyakas said Enga was set and ready for polling which got underway
this morning in many places.
He said that ballot boxes and papers had arrived
in the province and they were moved to polling places either by road or
by air this morning.
Over 2,000 security personnel involved in the polling in Southern
Highlands were already in Enga doing peacekeeping jobs.
Mr Kyakas said over 280,000 people were expected to cast their ballots.
There are 121 candidates contesting the five open electorate and 16
candidates contesting the provincial seat.
The polling in Enga had been scheduled for one day but it would be
extended for another day if the weather and logistic problems – like
those encountered in SHP – prevailed.
Polling in Western Highlands was to be held on July 6 while Simbu and
Eastern Highlands will go to polls on July 9.
 
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