Dion to issue writs tomorrow

 VOTERS will elect presidents for the 319 local level governments and councillors for the 6,186 wards in elections nationwide.

The election process starts tomorrow with the issuing of writs by Leo Dion, the Provincial and Local Level Government Minister.

He will issue 319 writs for the presidents as heads of local level governments and 6,186 writs for the LLG ward members.

In a statement yesterday, Dion revealed:

• Nominations would begin tomorrow and end on June 12;
• Election campaigns also start tomorrow and will end on July 5; 
• Voting will go through from July 6-Aug 9; and
• Writs are to be returned before or on Aug 30.

The five-year terms for the LLG presidents and ward councilors begin on the day fixed for the return of writs.

It will be the first time that the LLG presidents will be elected by the people.

In the past, the presidents who head the local level governments were elected by the councillors in their first meeting to be 15 days following the day fixed for the return of writs.

Dion said LLG assemblies should not conduct any meetings during the campaign and polling periods, except for emergency reasons only.

He said all major financial matters such as budget and expenditure reviews, awarding of projects and contracts and other financial commitments must cease during the polling period.

He also stressed that LLG assets and facilities should not be used for political campaigns.

Current LLG presidents and ward councilors will end their terms on the day fixed for the return of writs.

All elected heads and councilors of the LLG must be officially sworn in by a local or district court magistrate in their respective districts immediately on the day fixed for the return of writs or a day after.

The Electoral Commission will work together with the provincial administrations to see the successful execution of the elections. The provincial administrations are expected to share their resources such as manpower, transport and funds.

“Ultimately this new approach is an important practice to demonstrate the PNGEC, provincial administration and my department’s desire for transparency and objective standards of decision making.

“This is the way to go in future national general elections so that this important institution of expressing our democratic rights is a shared responsibility rather than only that of the PNGEC,” Dion said.