EC expects 225,000 B’ville voters

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato says that they are expecting to register about 225,000 voters in the roll for the Bougainville referendum.
He told the Press Club in Port Moresby on Monday that this figure was expected by the polling date on Oct 12.
Gamato, who is an ex-officio member of the Bougainville Referendum Commission, said they were carrying out enrolment in three phases.
“In phase one, we are comparing the rolls used in the 2015 Autonomous Bougainville Government elections against community government population records,” he said.
“Phase two is active, face-to-face enrolment of eligible persons.
“Phase three is an intensive display and challenges period where voters will check their enrolment particulars and may challenge enrolment records.”
Gamato said phase two enrolment was scheduled to last 10 weeks and would be followed by an intensive display and objection period of eight weeks, when voters would be able to check that they were enrolled for referendum, or object an enrolment.
“Enrolment will need to be prepared and accommodated by vigorous awareness,” he said.
“Without intensive awareness, enrolment cannot be expected to succeed.”
Gamato said the roll for the referendum was separate from the roll used in previous local and national elections on Bougainville.
“This means that inclusion in other rolls does not necessarily mean inclusion in the roll for the referendum,” he said.
“This goes to all the MPS of the National Government and Autonomous Bougainville Government, including the ABG president as well.
“No-one but your self can register to vote in the referendum.
“Bougainvilleans living in other parts of PNG will also have to enrol.
“Even non-Bougainvilleans married to Bougainvilleans are also eligible to vote, so long as they too are registered in the roll to vote for the referendum.”