By DALCY LULUA
Papua New Guinea is moving closer to modernizing its electoral system through the integration of biometric and electronic voting technologies- a shift aimed at ensuring credible, efficient, and transparent elections ahead of the 2027 National General Elections.
According to the Minister for Administrative Services and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister, Richard Masere, the government’s ongoing electoral reform agenda has been guided by lessons learned from countries such as India, the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand-nations that have successfully implemented technology-driven electoral systems.
“Through our research and engagement with these countries, we have identified proven global best practices that demonstrate how secure, verifiable, and inclusive voting technologies can deliver elections that are efficient, transparent, and trusted by the public,” Mr Masere said.
Under the proposed reforms, biometric verification will be introduced to ensure the principle of “one person, one vote,” using fingerprints or facial recognition to authenticate voters and prevent impersonation. Electronic voting, meanwhile, is expected to enhance speed, accuracy, and transparency in the counting process, delivering results within hours while reducing human error and ensuring that every valid vote is securely counted.
Mr Masere said the integration of these technologies will not only modernize the country’s electoral process but also strengthen accountability and public confidence in the democratic system.
“This reform is not merely about adopting new tools, but about building public trust, institutional readiness, and national ownership of the democratic process,” he said.
Over the next three days, local and international experts, legal specialists, and technology partners are meeting in Port Moresby to share insights and innovations that will guide Papua New Guinea’s pathway toward implementing these systems.
“Technology is not the future-it is the present,” Mr Masere added. “Papua New Guinea must embrace it to ensure that every vote is protected, every citizen is empowered, and every election truly reflects the will of the people.”
The government’s digital electoral reform agenda marks a key step toward transforming the country’s voting system into one that is modern, secure, and inclusive.
Electoral Reform is long overdue. Must be used come 2027 NGE. Ensure the systems operation is protected from hacking.
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