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SOUTHERN region will have another five-day extension of polling, which
will end on July 14.
The instruments giving effect to the extension had been signed by
Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane, which will cover most areas of
Southern region excluding the National Capital District.
The extension will cover Milne Bay, Northern, Western, Central and Gulf
provinces.
Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen in a media briefing yesterday said
reports coming in from provinces as of yesterday morning, indicated that
most polling teams were already on the ground preparing for polling in
their respective areas.
Mr Trawen said those that were reportedly stranded because of weather or
transport problems, had been inserted into their respective polling
sites.
For Western province, polling for South Fly Open is set to end yesterday
but extended due to flooding at Morehead LLG and Wipim area, which
prevented polling.
He said in North Fly open, a helicopter was needed to drop off six more
teams.
“Western province is expected to start counting on Saturday or Sunday
depending on weather and how soon teams are extracted subject to
availability of aircrafts and helicopters.”
Mr Trawen said counting in Northern province was expected to start this
weekend and Gulf province on Monday.
He said in Central province, polling was still continuing in parts of
Goilala, which was seriously affected by bad weather and transport
difficulties.
“All other electorate in Central are winding down and polling teams are
returning to their respective counting venues.”
Mr Trawen said the extended polling period would ensure polling teams
complete polling in the unfinished areas before the end of the week
For Momase, polling in the region has been completed while few locations
in Morobe, Madang and Sandaun are still polling and have requested for
extension.
Sandaun is expected to complete polling by this weekend.
Counting will commence for Madang and the rest of Morobe this weekend.
 
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