THREE members of the Commonwealth slipped into Kimbe on Tuesday with Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen to observe polling in West New Britain province.
The observers visited other parts of the country including the Highlands region, and West New Britain was part of their visit to the New Guinea Islands region.
They said they were there to see the people vote and get a better understanding of the newly-introduced limited preferential voting (LPV) system.
The observers said they had visited other provinces and found the system to be working well.
“We are pleased with what we saw, with the people expressing their democratic rights without favour and intimidation” a spokesperson said.
The observers said they spoke to some polling officials who told them about people not turning up at polling booths to vote, unlike in the Southern Highlands province, where people came in large numbers to cast their votes with some of them in traditional regalia.
“But despite this, the system is working well in this election,” the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, more than 1,600 people did not cast their votes in Kimbe urban LLG, even though their names were registered.
A polling official told The National that Kimbe urban LLG had 3,700 eligible voters but only 2,100 voted in the four wards.
 

Type In Your Name:

Type In Your E-mail:

Your Friend's E-mail:

Your Comments:

Receive copy: