Challenge for EC to prepare for 2017 polls

By GRACE AUKA
A WOMEN’S leader says the Electoral Commission should begin preparing for the 2017 general election immediately and eradicate the problems faced by voters this year.
The problems include missing names on common rolls, change of polling venues, cases of double-voting and the tampering of ballot boxes,
and various allegations of misconduct by officials.
Women in Politics president Maria Hayes has urged Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen to start preparations early so that they would avoid the problems faced this year.
“Trawen and his team have not performed their roles and duties as expected by the people of Papua New Guinea,” Hayes said.
“There were missing voters’ names in the electoral rolls and some election officials were not trained for the job they were tasked to do,” she said. 
She alleged there was cheating and bribery by polling and counting officials resulting in double voting.
“I don’t think this should continue any more in the next general election.”
She blamed the problems on the little time spent on preparing for the elections in the past five years.
Polling locations was another problem for voters who were asked to move from location to location because of the alphabetical order listing.
“How could they expect someone to catch a PMV bus or to walk from one location to another just to locate his or name to vote?” Hayes asked.