MP calls on Marape to update roll

The National National

NORTH Fly MP James Donald has called on Prime Minister James Marape to immediately direct the Election Commission to start the common roll update for next year’s general election. “The common roll update is a mammoth task which requires time, effort and resources, including funding. “Starting early means doing it better and properly,” he added.Donald said in a statement that the consequences of a late start in the update were obvious, as observed in the past nine general elections. They include:

  • ROLL of voters registered in national elections has been plagued with problems since the 1987 general election, with the number of registered voters on the roll exceeding the estimated voting population aged 18 and above;
  • ROLL inflation – enables people to vote more than once (under their own name, or under the names of others who have died or moved) and undermines confidence in the electoral process;
  • ROLL inflation – the most visible manifestation of problems with the common roll in PNG; and,
  • REGISTERED voter names missing from the roll, and people registered in the wrong location.

Donald said previous attempts to correct roll inflation had failed because of the late start, lack of collaboration and effective coordination, and funding constraints.