A low turnout of voters for polling in the Bougainville by-election on 20 January 2021 had forced an extension for a second day and polling was completed on 21 January 2021 in all the three open electorates – North, Central and South Bougainville.
Acting Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai who was on the ground to witness polling confirmed that voter turn-out was about 30-40 percent as only about 60,000-70,000 of the total 200,000 registered voters turned up to cast their votes.
“Voter turn-out is a problem in any election not only in PNG but anywhere in the world.”
“In PNG enrolment or voter registration is compulsory but voting is not compulsory unlike in Australia where both voter registration and voting are compulsory.”
Mr. Sinai, however, thanked the people of Bougainville for ensuring a peaceful outcome of polling and urged Bougainvilleans to maintain peace during the counting period.
Counting of primary votes was expected to start today (25/1/21) by electorates in Buin for Central Bougainville, in Arawa for South Bougainville and in Buka for North Bougainville.
Upon completion of primary votes, ballot boxes from Buin and Arawa will be transported to the central counting venue in Buka for eliminations and declaration of the winning candidate by Friday, 29 January 2021.
Writ for Bougainville by-election would be returned on or before Friday, 19 February 2021 to the Governor-General to official conclude the by-election.
Photo sourced: RNZ News