Public servants told to resign before polls

PUBLIC servants intending to contest the local level government elections starting next month must resign one month before it starts.
Electoral Commission training manager Kavanamur Bale stressed this during a training session for election officials in the Mamose region.
During the general election, public servants wanting to contest seats were given six months to resign.
Bale also said the commission would allow candidates in remote areas two weeks before the issue of writs on April 25 to file their nominations. This will give them enough time to file their nomination forms and pay their fees.
Candidates in semi-urban and urban areas will follow the normal scheduled dates when nominations open on April 25 and close on May 2.
Bale told election officials to ensure awareness and information were disseminated to candidates and voters. Bale said it was important for candidates to know the office of the returning officer and the assistant returning officer, and the persons authorised to accept nominations.
The training ensured that election officers understood the procedures of nomination, polling and counting.
“To conduct smooth elections it means the RO and ARO understand the nomination and administrative procedures,” Bale said.
Morobe has 565 wards in the 33 local level governments of its nine districts. Madang has 451 wards, 19 LLGs and six districts. East Sepik has 667 wards, 28 LLGs and six districts. West Sepik has 306 wards, 17 LLGs and four districts.
Assistant Commissioner Operations Simon Sinai said assistant returning officers and district officers should educate voters to choose their leaders without bias.