Bougainville By-election
One-day polling was conducted on 20 January 2021, however, due to low turnout of voters polling was extended for a second day and was completed on 21 January 2021 in the all the three Open electorates – North, Central and South Bougainville.
Acting Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai who was on the ground to witness polling confirmed that voter turn-out was about 30-40 percent as only about 60,000-70,000 of the total 200,000 registered voters turned up to cast their votes.
“Voter turn-out is a problem in any election not only in PNG but anywhere in the world.”
“In PNG enrolment or voter registration is compulsory but voting is not compulsory unlike in Australia where both voter registration and voting are compulsory.”
Mr. Sinai, however, thanked the people of Bougainville for ensuring a peaceful outcome of polling and urged Bougainvilleans to maintain peace during the counting period.
Counting of primary votes was expected to start today (25/1/21) by electorates in Buin for Central Bougainville, in Arawa for South Bougainville and in Buka for North Bougainville.
Upon completion of primary votes, ballot boxes from Buin and Arawa will be transported to the central counting venue in Buka for eliminations and declaration of the winning candidate by Friday, 29 January 2021.
Writ for Bougainville by-election would be returned on or before Friday, 19 February 2021 to the Governor-General to official conclude the by-election.
Kandep Judicial Recount
Electoral Commission is fast-tracking its preparations to get the Kandep judicial recount underway as soon as possible.
Acting Commissioner Simon Sinai announced today that funding of K5 million for the judicial recount has already been made available by Finance and Treasury.
Mr. Sinai met with Highlands Regional Commander, Chief Inspector Joseph Tondop and Deputy Police Commissioner Operations Donald Yamasombi this morning at his office at PNGEC HQ at Hohola to confirm security operations and travel arrangements to Wabag and Kundiawa.
On Wednesday this week PNGEC team to be led by Mr. Sinai will do an inspection travel along with senior officers of the police hierarchy Enga and Simbu.
The team will first go to Wabag to inspect the container where the Kandep ballot papers are store and later travel to Simbu to inspect the counting venue at the Catholic Mission Community Hall in Kundiawa.
Returning Officer Rev. Tom Sine is setting up the counting venue this week before Kandep ballot papers are retrieved from the container in Wabag and transported to Kundiawa for the recount.
The Acting Commission said that so far no issues have been raised against the proposed venue of the judicial recount in Kundiawa.
On 21 January 2021, the Supreme Court issued a new Court Order giving Electoral Commission an extension of six (6) weeks to 26 February to complete the judicial recount and return the results to the National Court in Waigani by 1 March 2021 to verify the final results and declare the winning candidate.
Press Release
