Commission opens postal voting

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THE Bougainville Referendum Commission (BRC) has opened applications for postal voting for those unable to vote at a polling venue.
Acting chief referendum officer Desmond Tsianai said the BRC was committed to ensuring that all eligible voters had access to voting through the SMS roll check, and now, the postal voting services.
“We are pleased to offer postal voting for those who cannot join us during the polling period,” he said.
Tsianai said under the Organic Law, postal voting would provide Bougainvilleans the flexibility to be able to vote in the referendum.
“The BRC wants to ensure that everyone has a chance to participate in the referendum,” he said.
“So we are making sure people can exercise their rights if they are travelling away from home, or if their health or mobility would otherwise make it difficult for them to get to a polling place.
“Postal voting is secret.
“The voter places their ballot paper into a secrecy envelope.
There is nothing on that envelop to indicate the identity of the voter.”
Any enrolled voter can apply for a postal vote so long as they meet certain criteria.
He said the BRC postal and the SMS roll check services were some examples of raising the bar for inclusive electoral processes.
Applications for postal voting can be made by using the BRC application form or in writing.