PNG By-elections : Issue of Writs deferred due to Security arrangements
The date for the issue of writ for the three By-Elections has been deferred to Thursday 27th of July.
PNG Electoral Commissioner, Simon Sinai announced this yesterday (Wednesday 12.07.23), saying this is to allow police to sort out security arrangements.
He said security is an important component of any election operation and the Commission will give time for police to prepare themselves well.
By-Elections will be conducted for the three affected electorates - North Bougainville in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Wewak in East Sepik Province and Lagaip in Enga Province.
The Electoral Commissioner said the Commission will wait for police to sort out their budget and other operational requirements within the next few days before the issue of writ next Thursday.
Mr. Sinai said police will go to the respective electorates and carry out security assessments on the ground and advice the Commission accordingly.
He said the writ will be issued on Thursday July, 27th, 2023, and nominations will open for seven days and closes on the 2nd of August, 2023.
Mr. Sinai said the campaign period will run for 8 weeks and polling will commence on September 23rd and closes on the 2nd of October 2023.
Counting will be conducted within 21 days from October 6th to the 27th and return of writ will be on or before October 27th, 2023.
By-Elections will be conducted for the electorates of North Bougainville, Wewak and Lagaip.
The seat of North Bougainville was left vacant after the incumbent MP, William Nakin passed away prior to counting of votes for the electorate following the 2022 National Elections.
For Wewak Open electorate, the incumbent MP, Kevin Isifu passed away after suffering from an illness, while the Lagaip electorate was declared failed after ballot boxes and papers were burnt and destroyed.
NBC News PNG / PNG Today
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