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TRANSPARENCY International PNG (TI PNG)
is calling on the PNG Electoral Commission to stop pointing fingers at
eligible voters who missed out on the common rolls.
The poll body should instead accept some blame on the voters’ lists
debacle, TI PNG said.
TI PNG chairman Mike Manning said the exercise in preparing the roll had
taken a long time and at great deal of resources.
“There have been a large number of discrepancies, both omissions and
‘ghosts’ and in some provinces the roll was almost superfluous because
officials took no notice of it, to the extent that in some places the
roll was not being checked at all,” Mr Manning said.
He said it was becoming clear that the exercise in preparing the roll
and the huge amount of resources consumed in doing so had been largely
wasted.
“It is time that we acknowledge that there are other ways to ensure a
clean and fair election and consider doing away with the roll
completely,” Mr Manning said.
He added that there were electronic and other methods of recognition
that could prevent multiple voting and it was time they were used in
PNG.
Mr Manning added that TI PNG had been observing the elections around the
country with officials and local observers and was generally pleased
with the fact that the election had gone off smoothly recording a major
reduction in violence.
He said while there were many problems and irregularities experienced in
different places of the country and a few others, the fact that the
Southern Highlands had been able to vote was a “major improvement”.
“The Electoral Commission and law and order task force must be commended
for this and should take full credit,” Mr Manning said.
 
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