Chimbu, EHP to poll after set dates

CHIMBU and Eastern Highlands provinces are the two highlands provinces going to the polls after the scheduled closing of voting.
Voting was to have ended at 4.06pm last Friday.
But Chimbu province continued voting over the weekend and it is expected to continue today in the more remote  areas.
Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen has advised Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio to extend polling  in the two highlands provinces.
Last week, Trawen said the two provinces were likely to start voting on either July 7 or 8 (Chimbu) and July 11 or 12 (Eastern Highlands).
“These are tentative dates only and I will be seeking advice prior to declaring the new dates and advising the governor-general,” Trawen said.
“I want to announce this afternoon that the governor-general would have to sign the extension of time for polling in seven provinces.”
“These provinces include Chimbu, Eastern Highalnds, Gulf, Western, Milne Bay, Madang and Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
“The extension of time was granted under Section 177(1) (c) of the Organic Law on National and Local-level Government Elections upon my advice.
“Polling has been extended under this provision of the Organic Law on Elections upon the existence of special circumstances; in this case bad weather conditions, remoteness and logistics,” he said.