Observer group notes electoral challenges

PAPUA New Guinea’s ongoing elections have barely achieved a pass mark from a Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) present in the country.
With just over two weeks to go before writs are returned on July 27, COG chairman Edward Natapei said in an “interim statement” yesterday that the group had noted that some of the benchmarks for democratic processes were met but several significant challenges remained to be addressed.
Among some of the key findings the group, which has been in the country since June 16, made were:
lThe need to efficiently and effectively manage elections to ensure maximum franchise for citizens, appropriate and consistent electoral practices for the exercise of that franchise, and a strong culture of democracy throughout the country;
lWidespread, deeply-rooted discrimination against women and the need for more women to participate in the political process;
lConcerns about the rise of money politics, including widespread reported attempts by candidates to bribe voters directly on a scale far greater than ever before; and
lUnfortunate level of disorganisation and inconsistency in aspects of election management.
The group also pointed out that:
lPolling delays in certain places due to weather conditions and tardy payment of allowances to officials and security forces, and failures in logistics planning;
lLack of urgency to ensure the polling schedule was met;
lProblems with the electoral roll in all provinces visited. The proportion of voters turned away varied from one area to the next. There were multiple apparent causes including the integrity of the electoral roll itself, confusion over names used by voters, a lack of clarity in the allocation of voters to specific wards and the limited ability of polling officials to verify enrolment information on polling day;
lWidespread disenfranchisement of PNG citizens who wished to vote. There is a need for a more reliable and efficient voter registration and electoral roll management system including the incorporation of some form of voter identification, and better measures for verification and redress during polling;
lSignificant delays to the opening time of polling stations almost everywhere. In many places, polling stations also closed earlier than 6pm. Failure to accord sufficient respect to the designated polling times has the potential to disenfranchise voters and is a serious concern;
lWide variance in voting practices around the country. In coastal and islands provinces, the procedures were correctly followed in most respects and voters (whose names were located on the electoral roll) were able to exercise their votes freely and in secret;
lIn the highlands provinces, most of the polling stations visited did not provide for the secrecy of the ballot, with voting taking place in public and often being done by polling officials or candidates and scrutineers on behalf of voters. Our teams also saw multiple voting, “bloc” voting and, apparently, underage voters in a number of locations; and
lReports of intimidation of voters by candidates and their supporters at certain polling locations.
On the bright side, the group noted:
lThe initiative taken to provide for voters with disability. Members of the group visited the dedicated facilities established for disabled voters in Port Moresby and Lae, and also witnessed disabled voters being given priority and assistance in several other polling places;
lCounting conducted in transparent and diligent manner despite some level of procedural disputes and delays;
lCampaigning period relatively competitive and mostly peaceful; and
lThe setting up of the new system for digital transmission of results from counting centres to the PNGEC, which allowed for timely updating of results on the PNGEC website and through the media.
Natapei urged the Electoral Commission and other relevant authorities to ensure the counting and results processes and those steps which follow, including any election-related legal matters, would be concluded in a timely and transparent manner to ensure full accountability for, and confidence in, the outcomes of the election.
He said Commonwealth teams had observed voting in all four regions and 16 of PNG’s 22 provinces.
“While deployed, our observers met with electoral officials, police, candidates, scrutineers and ordinary voters in order to build up a larger picture of the conduct of the electoral process,” Natapei said.
“We are aware that due to the extended polling schedule, voting is yet to be completed in some provinces at the time of this statement.”
A final report with the group’s full conclusions and recommendations on the entire process would be issued later, Natapei said.