Change in venues affects polling

 By ZACHERY PER

SOME  voters in the Kundiawa-Gembogl by-election in Chimbu have reported that they did not vote because of the distribution of ballot papers and last-minute changes to polling venues.

One of them was the provincial administrator of Chimbu Joe Kunda.

He reportedly turned up at his Mirane polling venue only to find that the venue had been changed by polling officials to Gon.

Kunda went to cast his vote at his home at Mirane, a place where he normally casts his vote.

However, upon arri­val, he was told that his tribe were to vote at Gon and this caused confusion.

“According to the 2007 common roll and polling schedule which I believe was used in this election, we were supposed to vote at Mirane which is a gazetted polling area.

“But people from my tribe were asked to go and vote at Gon without prior notice which has caused many people like myself not to vote,” Kunda said.

He is requesting electoral officials to explain this mix-up.

Despite these, Kunda said the by-election was under control and people were looking forward 

to the counting which is expected to commence by tomorrow or Friday.

The ballot boxes are now stored at the Kundiawa police station under heavy police guard.

Meanwhile, polling in the by-election was completed but not without problems.

An observer said at a place where she visited, despite police presence, people were marking ballot papers at the camps of certain candidates.

If such complaints reached the attention of the returning officer, ballot boxes could be disputed and might not be counted.

But provincial police commander Chief Insp  John Kale said he was happy with the work of Electoral Commission officials in conducting peaceful polling.

“I am happy with the conduct of candidates and their supporters in assisting polling officials and would like to thank them and my men for this,” Kale said.

The counting of votes for the by-election for Kundiawa-Gembogl is expected to begin later this week in Kundiawa after polling teams finalise  their returns to the returning officer for the electorate James Pia­pia.