Marape wants biometric used in 2017

By JUNIOR UKAHA
MEMBER-elect for Tari-Pori James Marape has called on the Electoral Commission to improve its voting and counting in the next elections, scheduled for 2017.
“I suggest the use of the biometric system.”
Marape said he would fully support the commission to have the biometric voting system introduced so that future elections are conducted with fewer problems.
The biometric system was suggested by a number of MPs in the O’Neill-Namah government before the elections this year.
Marape, who was declared winner on Tuesday polling 18,271 votes, congratulated the commission for conducting a successful election in Hela.
“The commission has proved many people wrong.
“We were the first to start in Hela. It was a scheduled election.”
Marape said the people of Hela have embraced their new province and voted without causing problems.
Returning officer Willie Tara said the elections went smoothly with few problems. Eleven ballot boxes were damaged by supporters of candidates and 95% of the total number of boxes was counted.