Cast your votes: O’Neill

FORMER prime minister Peter O’Neill has asked Papua New Guineans to come out in large numbers to cast their ballots for General Election 2022 (GE22).
“Do not be discouraged by the GE22 chaos,” he said.
“I am voting in my home in Ialibu-Pangia and I expect all to cast their ballots to exercise your constitutional rights nationwide.”
He said stories and talks of widespread election fraud, compromises, incompetence and major issues that point to this being the worst election in history should not deter anyone from voting.
“Do not give up on democracy,” he said.
“Vote and do so peacefully.”
O’Neill said there were many people talking about this being a complete failed election and “I can understand your frustrations.”
“Failing is not an option as the future of our nation depends on a change taking place.
“This will not be a failed election and change is coming.
“I know it looks bad right now, and you are right to be disappointed, but we have a long history of pulling through together because the one thing that binds us as a nation is our strong desire for democracy.
“So please have your say and vote in GE22.”
Meanwhile, Southern Highlands Commander Chief Inspector Daniel Yangen said he was preparing the province for today’s polling with awareness campaigns, random roadblocks and checks and even a clean-up in Mendi.
He said the security forces were ready and prepared.
“The Quick Response Force on the ground comprises Police Mobile Squad and PNG Defence Force soldiers as well as local policemen and women,” he said.
“We are also waiting for the roll-over teams to arrive from Enga to boost our manpower strength to monitor all the polling centres.”

GE22 polling expected to end this week

POLLING for General Elections (GE22) has started in 17 of 22 provinces and is expected to finish in most parts of the country this week.
Certain electorates in the Highlands, New Guinea Islands, Mamose and Southern all faced delays due to either transportation of materials, security personnel, logistics or stakeholder issues.
Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai in response to this, emphasised that the commission could only carry out the election if all stakeholders respected and followed the rules, the officials and each other.
“The elections are delivered by people in your communities; they are your teachers, social workers, mothers and fathers,” he said.
“These are people you know, who are committed to delivering this election in your community so please respect them and the process.”
With the exception of Hela, polling will continue in all provinces that held polling last week, with one-day polling to be carried out throughout the rest of the highlands but expected to end in Enga today.
The final five provinces and electorates are to go to the polls beginning this week with Southern Highlands and National Capital’s Moresby North-East electorate (July 11), Eastern Highlands (July 12), Jiwaka, Western Highlands (July 13) and Chimbu (July 15).
Sinai encouraged voters yet to cast their vote to look for their names on the roll lookup which can be found on the android play store or on the Electoral Commission’s website www.pngec.gov.pg.

Only 350 ballot papers for 800-plus villagers

By AILEEN KWARAGU
MANUMANU village in Central did not have enough ballot papers for its 800-plus eligible voters because only 350 ballot papers were supplied by the Electoral Commission.
Presiding officer of team 18 and 19 polling in Hiri-Koiari Patrick Igo Boio said Kido village had more ballot papers.
“From my own perspective, there was an error with the typing on Manumanu’s ballot papers because Kido had more compared to the total on their common roll,” he said.
Boio said he realised the shortage on the team’s arrival in Manumanu last week.
He said he was advised by the electorate’s assistant returning officer (ARO) Faroro Vaibi to use his discretion to resolve the issue.
“Due to time and distance, I called my ARO and got permission to use the left-over ballot papers from Kido village which was accepted,” he said.
He said a letter was drafted from the village and all scrutineers involved signed as proof to use Kido’s ballot papers.
He added that more than 700 voted in Manumanu which was the highest without complaints and issues.
Boio and his team spent two days in Kido and ended the polling at Manumanu on Thursday.
Meanwhile, counting in Central was scheduled to start today.

Moresby North-West residents used other names to vote

By LULU MAGINDE
POLLING for the National Capital (NCD) took place on Friday, with some people not being registered to vote, while some did double or multiple voting.
The National spoke to an individual at Ipi Park in Moresby North-West, who had cast his vote three times and was about to attempt a fourth, when polling officials recognised his face from the first time he was there and angrily sent him away.
Although he chose not to reveal his name, the man from Enga and long-time resident of Hohola Three, had strategically chosen his first three times to vote at three of six polling booths stationed on the field and had removed the “indelible” ink using a solvent mixture.
There were instances of people not being allowed to vote, even though they participated in the common roll update; people being allowed to vote even though their names were not on the roll and people using other names to vote.
Lovely Doka from Enga, a resident of Hohola Three, told The National that she knew that someone else had used her name to vote and although she was not okay with it, she was not as bothered because she was going to do the same.
First-time voter Michelle Kakale said polling for that particular station felt disorganised and rushed, as she witnessed certain individuals joining lines in different booths to vote twice.
Whitehouse settlement resident Nancy Karap found that there was a mix up in the lists, as some of those who had been living in Whitehouse all their life, herself included, had their names registered and transferred to Morata.
“I’m not going to Morata to vote because I don’t know anyone there and if I do I will be targeted for questioning and accused of something,” she said.
Experienced voter Emma Waikus, after casting her vote, said she knew those living in the settlements had given their names during the common roll update but weren’t able to vote because their names weren’t on the updated list.
“The Electoral Commission really should have updated their list before proceeding with polling.”