Polling for 2025 LLG Elections begins on 27 October

Papua New Guineans will go to the polls starting next week to elect their ward councilors and LLG presidents for next five years.

Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai said all preparation were being finalized for polling to commence on Monday, 27 October 2025.

He said all election materials including polling kits and ballot papers have been dispatched to all provinces. adding election managers and their assistants have been working long hours to sort out and distribute the materials according to the number of polling teams in each province.

Mr Sinai said all provinces have conducted second and third tier trainings for polling and counting officials and are ready 1o conduct polling from Monday onwards.

He said two different methods would be used for voting whereby voters in the Highlands provinces and Morobe would be issued with single ballot papers to vote for candidates for the ward only and they would have as single day poll.

Voters in the other 14 coastal provinces would be issued two ballot papers; One for the candidate contesting the ward and the other for the candidate contesting the LLG president, where the people will directly vote for the president. Polling would be conducted over the normal poll period.

For the Highlands provinces and Morobe, the LLG presidents would be elected from the chamber by the ward councilors.

Mr Sinai said provinces can decide on when to commence polling, but it must be done within the specified polling dates set by the Minister for Provincial and Local Government Affairs Soro Eoe (27 October to 10 November 2025).

Mr Sinai thanked all provincial administrators in the country who chair the Provincial Election Advisory Committees and their staff for working closely with the Provincial Electoral staff as key stakeholders in ensuring this important election is delivered for the good of our people and country.

“This is your election and we are only facilitating it. Thank everyone for stepping forward and  ensuring that the 2025 LLG Elections are delivered,” he said.

Mr Sinai apologized to the candidates, their families and the supporters throughout the country for the stress and emotional loss they may have suffered as the result of the delays and thanked them for waiting patiently.