LLG election officers get training

 A week-long training on local level government election procedures for assistant returning officers from Enga and Western Highlands held at the Mt Hagen Airport Resort will end today.

Last week the trainers from PNG Electoral Commission began the training programme in Hela and Southern Highlands provinces to point out the basic processes of the elections in preparation for the LLG elections in a few weeks time.

The training objective is to properly manage the nomination process.

Election training consultant Donald Donhow said there will be a slight difference between the procedures used in the national elections and the LLG elections, hence the workshop.

He said the country had 6,129 council wards and 312 LLG wards, and ensuring safe and fair LLG elections was their priority

Trainer Alice Melpa said there would be four weeks of campaign and people must choose their leaders well.

 “All we want is for people to cooperate with us and choose good leaders to represent you for the next five years,” she said.

She said that polling officials should carry out their duties professionally before, during and after the elections.

Counting and declaration of councillors in each ward will be done on the same day while LLG presidents’ counting will continue. 

Pictures of candidates will not be displayed on ballot papers in the LLG elections so the chances are high that there will be a lot of confusion for those who can not read.