One day polling not my call, says PNGEC Chief Gamato

Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission and Election boss Patilias Gamato said on Tuesday that one day polling has been a part of elections in the past and was not his call.

As the first week of polling exposed many weaknesses accompanying one day polling period in places like the national capital on Tuesday, Mr Gamato said the arrangement has worked in the past so should not be much of a concern.

He responded when asked by the media on some of the ramifications of polling for a single day that could undermine the entire electoral process, following a whole host of issues faced by the electoral commission in delivering polling in parts of the country.

“First of all I want to say one day polling is not my decision for this election,” Electoral Commission Patilias Gamato said.“We have done one day polling before.

The country has done one day polling in the last election; NCD did one day polling and Lae too.”“So the decision to do one day polling is based on previous decisions that we have made, so preparing for polling is important.”Post Courier/PNG Today