Eligible voters’ names not listed on common roll

 By ELIAS LARI

HUNDREDS of voters in the Kuabini Laiyapu council Ward 1 in Pangia, Southern Highlands, have been turned away because their names were not on the common roll.

It is understood that the Kuabini Laiyapu council ward has 770 eligible voters but only 440 voted.

Candidate Martin Loro blamed the mistake on the Electoral Commission.

“How can people exercise their rights to elect a leader when their names are not recorded on the common roll?” he asked.

“This is totally wrong because hundreds of them have missed out on while only a few cast their votes.” 

Loro said it meant that the election was not free and fair.

“I do not understand where this country is heading to because every election in the country is always having problems,” he said.

“This is serious and what has happened here is a classic example of corruption.

“It is about time such practices are changed to let people exercise their rights especially during the elections.”

Loro said as a candidate for that council ward, even his name was not on the common roll.