GG extends polling deadline

Polling has been extended in seven provin­ces beyond the sche­duled July 6 deadline.
The provinces are Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, Gulf, Western, Milne Bay, Madang and the 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 by Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio on the advice of Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen.
Trawen said last Friday the extension was necessary because of the “existence of special circumstances; in this case bad weather conditions, remoteness and logistics”.
These conditions resulted in delays in the distribution of polling materials and late deployment of polling teams to polling places as well as movement of security personnel from province to province (especially in the Highlands).
Polling has commenced in all electorates in Chimbu province and is expected to conclude on July 11.
This is a variation from the single-day polling originally planned for the province.
Polling will commence in all electorates in Eastern Highlands province and end on July 17.
Polling will continue in Gulf, Western and Milne Bay provinces until July 13 including the atolls of Bougainville.
Polling in the Middle Ramu and Usino-Bundi open electorates in Madang were extended from Saturday to yesterday.
Counting will commence upon completion of polling in these areas.