By DALCY LULUA
Acting Electoral Commissioner Margaret Vagi has confirmed that polling for the Dei Open and New Ireland Provincial by-elections will be conducted in a single day.
Mrs Vagi said polling would take place on Monday, 19 January 2026, following the official close of the campaign period at midnight on Friday, 16 January 2026.
The two seats became vacant after the deaths of their respective members while serving in the 10th National Parliament.
Speaking on the progress of the by-elections, Mrs Vagi said preparations have been smooth since the writs were issued on 4 December 2025, with no major incidents reported so far.
“I commend everyone for conducting themselves peacefully and allowing the smooth progress of the by-elections,” she said.
Mrs Vagi confirmed that all polling materials were expected to arrive in the electorates next week and would be distributed according to the number of polling teams assigned to each area.
A total of 57 polling teams would be deployed for the Dei Open electorate in Western Highlands Province, while 156 polling teams would service the New Ireland Provincial electorate, she said.
Mrs Vagi said polling teams would be dispatched to their respective locations on 17 and 18 January to prepare ahead of polling day.
“Counting will commence immediately after all ballot boxes have been safely extracted and delivered to the main counting centers,” she said.
In New Ireland Province, 10 candidates are contesting the provincial seat left vacant following the death of senior statesman and one of Papua New Guinea’s founding fathers, Grand Chief Sir Julius Chan.
Among the candidates is Rhodie Paut Nawara, the only woman contesting the seat as an independent. Six other candidates are also running as independents, while three are endorsed by political parties: Joshua Takin (National Alliance Party), Byron Chan (People’s Progress Party), and Hosea Tapit Kalis (Our Party).
For the Dei Open electorate, 25 candidates have nominated. Jeremiah Pim, the son of the late MP Steven Pim, is the only candidate endorsed by a political party, contesting under the Pipol First Party, while the remaining candidates are independents.
Mrs Vagi also assured the public that measures have been put in place to avoid disruptions to schools, as polling and counting will coincide with the start of the academic year.
“We have consulted with relevant stakeholders to ensure that classes will not be disrupted during the polling and counting period,” she said.