By DALCY LULUA
Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai has confirmed that polling for the 2025 Local Level Government (LLG) Elections will commence on 27 September, following the nation’s 50th Independence anniversary celebrations.
Polling, which was originally scheduled for 12 July this year, was deferred due to administrative and logistical challenges.
The Minister for Provincial and Local Government Affairs, Hon. Soroi Eoe, later announced revised dates for the election.
Under the new schedule, polling will run from 27 September to 10 October, with counting to
begin on 1 October. Writs are expected to be returned on or before 17 October.
The delay, Commissioner Sinai explained, was mainly caused by the creation of more than 500 new LLG wards and 41 additional LLGs across 14 provinces, which required an extensive voter realignment exercise.
Electoral staff had to identify eligible voters from existing rolls and separate them to create new rolls for the additional wards and LLGs.
“This was the main cause of the delay. Though it is not the responsibility of PNGEC staff, I am happy that most of the realignment work is complete, with the rolls being printed and ready for polling,” Sinai said.
He noted that wards that failed to meet legal requirements, including minimum voter population, had their writs withdrawn.
On logistics, Sinai assured that most election materials, including ballot boxes, ballot papers, polling kits, and voting compartments, have already been dispatched to provinces. “We have a few more to go, but the bulk of the work is done, and we are ready and set for polling,” he added.
The Commissioner also issued an apology to the nation and candidates for the unusually long delay.
He called on the Department of Provincial and Local Government Affairs to exercise greater caution in approving new ward proclamations close to election periods, warning that late decisions can significantly disrupt electoral preparations.
Great news. Make sure no defer again.
🙏🙏
Will our Ward Councilors through out PNG be Reenter to payroll till written of writs, which they’ve been put off Pay since 06/08/2025,
Please do assist them.
People of Dei District calling for election must be deferred to early next year2026 because by election has not been scheduled.Dei 52 plus council wards are calling for election must be deferred to early next year 2026.
The reasons are their local member Steven Pim died and left the seat vacant and electrical commissioner,s responsibility is to run a by election for Dei Open but left the seat vacant.This is unconstitutional and there is no point running the council election leaving the open seat pending.very very annoying and there will be a lot of problems we expect along the way so deferred the council election to early next year 2026.??
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