Papua New Guinea readies for June election

1:21 pm on 13 April 2022

The Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission is preparing to send out 14,000 ballot boxes for the June general election.

Electoral Commission headquarters.

Electoral Commission headquarters. Photo: RNZI/ Johnny Blades

They will go to all 118 electorates, which includes seven newly-created ones.

The Commission said the boxes that are sent to the Highlands provinces will be made of metal.

The Commissioner, Simon Sinai, wants the election start date to be moved back one week to start on June 18 instead of June 25.

While he first announced this more than a month ago, Sinai told the Post Courier he is still waiting for the Governor General Sir Bob Dadae to endorse the change.

This longer period would allow voting to be extended over three weeks instead of the usual two.

Sinai also said the appointment of returning officers is being delayed as long as possible to prevent them facing candidates who might try to influence them.