People with disabilities to cast vote at LLG elections

 By SHIRLYN BELDEN 

PEOPLE living with disabilities (PLWDs) in the 318 local level governments will be an integral part of the elections to begin next month, PNG Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen says.

About 100 people living with disabilities in the rural areas are to cast their votes at the four locations designated by the commission in Kokopo, Lae, Goroka and Port Moresby.

They will be assisted by election managers and officers to enrol for the elections. 

Trawen told reporters in Port Moresby last week that it was “a milestone reached by the electoral commission to involve PLWDs in the LLG election as it did in the 2012 general election”.

He said the commission was taking the necessary steps and initiatives to ensure that the elections were not only free, fair and safe but also inclusive and accessible to all eligible voters. 

The enrolment venue for the Southern region will be in Port Moresby to also cater for the Motu-Koita Assembly election which will coincide with the main LLG election.

“Electoral officers on the ground in the provinces are aware of the needs and rights of PLWDs and are willing to support any initiative undertaken by the head office in Port Moresby to cater for them.

“This is a start for the commission but in the future we will cater for and capture and register more PLWDs especially in remote and rural parts of the country in preparation any election in PNG,” he said.