Extension of Papua New Guinea election period

The two week election voting/polling period for the general and provincial elections in Papua New Guinea was expected to finish on July 6. This would allow for all writs to be returned by the due date of July 27, set by the Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio.

The Electoral Commissioner, Mr Andrew Trawen, extended the election polling period for a week to Friday July 13 to enable all ballot papers to arrive at remote regions. The Eastern Highlands became the last province to complete polling yesterday.

The issue now is that the writs must be returned before the official 8^th national election ends. The Organic Law on the National and Local Level Government Elections (OLNLLGE) is specific on the issue and return of writs. Under Section 80, subsection 1, the law specifies that “the fixed for the return of writs shall not be more than 21 days after the end of the polling period.”

Officials are now debating what the actual completion date should be, and whether another extension is required for the return of writs. By law, if July 13 is taken as the last day of polling, the writs should be returned to the Head of State (the Governor-General) on August 1, bring the 2012 elections to an end. Is three weeks enough time for all writs to be returned? The Electoral Commissioner can extend the date of the return of the writs under Section 80, subsection 2 of OLNLLGE, under special circumstances.

Vote counting has commenced, and to date 3 seats have already been declared. Provincial regions will continue vote counting and for the provinces that have not yet started, they are expected to commence this week. The concern is that some provincial counting centres may encounter disruptions, due to contentious issues. Then the writs have to be transported (from remote highlands and islands) in time.

In the meantime, Papua New Guineans are anxiously waiting for the outcome of their vote.

(http://www.postcourier.com.pg/weekendcourier/wchome.htm)

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