Electronic counting for Rai Coast Open

THE Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission (PNGEC) will for the first time trial the new electronic counting when counting of votes for the Rai Coast by-election starts tomorrow afternoon.
PNGEC spokesman Mark Karambi said yesterday polling had been completed in most areas and ballot boxes had been flown into Madang for counting.
He said there were initial problems when polling started because money was not released on time by the Treasury Department and polling teams had to leave without security personnel.
He said the other delay was due to bad weather and helicopters could not go into polling areas causing delays.
Mr Karambi said polling had ended for most areas over the weekend and ballot boxes flown to Madang except for Teptep.
He said as soon as ballot boxes from Teptep arrive in Madang, counting would begin.
Mr Karambi said the PNGEC for the first time would be trying out the new electronic counting system which he said would take less than half an hour to complete counting.
He said this was only on a trial basis and votes would than be counted manually to confirm the figures.
He said Treasury had also released the money totalling around K900,000 that was sent to Madang last Friday for allowances and other election related payments.
Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen is currently out of the country but will return in time for the return of writs on Dec 7.