North Bougainville by-election in May

National, Normal
Source:

The National – Monday, February 14, 2011

ELECTORAL Commissioner Andrew Trawen has announced the dates for the North Bougainville by-election will be in May.
The vacancy follewed the election of Michael Ogio as governor-general last month.
Ogio would be sworn in as the 9th governor general in May when the parliament resumes.
Trawen told the first election managers meeting at the March Girls Resort last Friday that  acting Governor-General Jeffery Nape had approved the by-election schedule for North Bougainville.
He said the writs would be issued on March 21 and nominations would close on March 28.
Polling would start on May 14 and would end on May 20. Writs would be returned on June 10.
Sources said K4 million would be needed for the by-election and was not included in the budget.
Trawen also said the Hela and Jiwaka would  have their own elections as a province.
However, the electoral boundaries were yet to be identified.
Meanwhile, Trawen said the first election managers’ meeting focused on the preparations for the electoral roll updates and awareness.
Trawen also revealed that the update and maintenance of the electoral roll would start next month and the old enrolment form would not be used.
He said that recruitment of all returning and enrolment officials, 33 casual staff for all provincial electoral offices, training of returning officers, enrolment agents and civil society organisation under the roll improvement training would start next month.