Polls to be in June ’17

 By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK

POLLING in the 2017 general election will be held in June, the Electoral Commission has announced.

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato announced the tentative dates while waiting for funding from the Government. He needs K182 million to conduct the 2017 general election.

Gamato said the dates were approved by the Governor-General. They are:

• Issue of writs and opening of nominations: April 20;
• Close of nominations: April 27;
• Polling starts: Sat June 24;
• Polling ends: Sat July 8;
•  Return of writs on or before Mon July 24.

The return of writs for the Local Level Government is on Monday Aug 7. 

Gamato said the nomination period was for  seven days, campaign period for eight weeks, polling over 14 days.

“We are ready in terms for planning as we have conducted elections in the past. So we are ready to conduct the 2017 elections. The only hurdle that we have to overcome is funding,” he said. “We have approached the Chief Secretary asking for additional funding and we believe the Government will provide us that and we are hoping it will consider our pledge and give us the funding as soon as possible before we go to the election in 2017”. 

Gamato said the main activity this year would be the upgrading of the common roll.