Trawen clears Motu Koitabu misconception

 By MOUA OMOA

ONLY Motu Koitabuans and individuals who are part-Motu Koitabu are eligible to vote in the Motu Koitabu Assembly LLG elections.

Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen cleared the air yesterday amid misconceptions and confusion over voter eligibility looming among Motu Koitabu villagers. 

Trawen said the commission was only following a law that was passed by the Motu Koitabu Assembly that only Motu Koitabuans were eligible to contest or vote in the elections. 

“If a Motu Koitabu man is married to a woman from another province, only the man and his children will vote. Likewise, it is the same for a Motu Koitabu woman who is married to a man from another province, only she and her children are eligible to vote.” 

There have been arguments that in the last Motu Koitabu LLG elections the law was only applied to intending candidates and did not affect voters.

In the last elections, individuals married to Motu Koitabuans and residing in a Motu Koitabu village over three years, as well settlers who considered themselves to be part of that certain Motu Koitabu village, were eligible to vote. 

Trawen said this would pose some confusion as some names would still appear in the common roll but he was optimistic that individuals would be allowed to vote as part of the community.

Meanwhile, campaigning starts today for intending candidates for the council and presidential seats with the issue of writs at 4pm.