Port Moresby North East Candidate Raises Concerns of Alleged Tampering of Ballot Papers

 By Joe GURINA : FM 100 

Port Moresby North East Candidates claim “cheating” has been practiced in the polling preparations.

They raised their concerns after discovering that two extra boxes of ballot papers were allocated for two wards and delivered to Sir John Guise stadium last Sunday in preparation of the polling period.

Ms Tania Bale

They are calling on the Electoral Commission’s NCD Election Manager to destroy the two extra boxes of ballot papers estimated to be 8,000 in total.

The boxes were allegedly moved on Sunday evening from ATC (Air Transport Control) to the Sir John Guise stadium by polling officials without consulting the candidates who are now questioning the authenticity of the extra ballot papers.

Ms Tania Bale, a candidate for Port Moresby North East said Two LLG Wards 9 and 12, had two extra boxes with 4,000 ballot papers in each.

‘’Sunday was meant to be the day when we were to do all the pre-polling checks. Our Polling teams were sent to check the boxes with the ballot papers, check the serial numbers and authenticity of the ballot boxes at ATC. But we were not notified of the release of the ballot box papers from ATC (Air Traffic Control) until they reached Sir John Guise stadium."

“So we went to Sir John Guise and noticed that there were two additional boxes of ballot papers, For Ward 9 there was meant to be 20 boxes but there were 21. For Ward 12 there was meant to be 15 boxes and there was 16,” Ms Bale said.

“The fact that there were extra ballot paper boxes raised great concern amongst candidates who asked the electoral officials to open the boxes to prove the ballot papers were not tampered with. When the boxes were open we noticed the ballot papers had indeed been tampered with. There are discrepancies that have caused us to question the authenticity of the ballot papers. 

“We are talking about 8,000 votes. This could easily give one candidate a winning margin.

“These things don’t happen in isolation. It takes collaboration between multiple parties to make this things to happen. People need to know that who they vote for wins and not he who cheats wins

“I am really sad and heavy hearted that this has happened to our democracy. Our democracy is on shaky grounds and we need to do everything we can to stop cheating during polling time. We are now calling on everybody to safeguard the democracy of our nation.

Give your vote of your own free will for whoever you think will do the best job to change your lives and safeguard our democracy. Keep your eyes open for cheating behavior,” Ms Bale said.

Ms Bale said they had waited for four hours on Sunday night for the NCD Election Manager to address them. 

“When he finally arrived he assured us there was nothing wrong with the boxes; but the entire crowd howled at him to open up the ballot boxes and sure enough we found out that the ballot boxes were tampered with, the numbers don’t add up and the fact that they were supposed to be sealed but were open, We have evidence of ballot boxes open with no plastic covers on them.

We want this two extra boxes of ballot papers to be destroyed, " Ms Bale said.

She said the NCD Election Manager and the Returning Officer need to address this issue.

They have not confirmed that they will destroy the extra boxes, Ms Bale said.

FM 100 / PNG Today

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