By DALCY LULUA
MEMBER for Kikori Open and Minister for Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs, Hon. Soroi Eoe has announced the new dates scheduled for the Local Level Government (LLG) elections.
Originally set for July 29, the LLG elections have been rescheduled. The issue of writs and the nomination period will now start on September 26th, with the return of writs on or before December 27th, 2024.
The revised LLG elections dates are as follows:
• Issue of writs and nomination opens at 4 pm, Thursday, September 26th, 2024;
• Nomination closes at 4 pm, Thursday, October 3rd, 2024;
• Polling starts on Saturday, November 23rd, 2024;
• Polling ends on Friday, December 6th, 2024;
• Counting starts on Saturday, December 7th, 2024; and,
• Return of writs on or before Friday, December 27th, 2024
Minister Eoe stated that the rescheduling of the elections was based on advice from the Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission (PNGEC) due to genuine logistical and operational challenges that needed to be addressed to ensure a successful, free, and fair election.
He explained that the ongoing National Census exercise and the need to ensure the availability of the same Provincial, District, and LLG officials who would serve as election officers made it practically impossible to conduct the LLG elections as originally scheduled.
“It must be understood that we have two very important national events scheduled to be delivered within the same period, and that is practically impossible,” Minister Eoe said.
“The long-delayed National Census exercise now running deserves every support from all stakeholders, including public servants across the country. These are the same people who will conduct the Local-Level Government Elections.”
