The first level by-election training for the Returning officers (ROs), Assistant Returning officers (AROs) and
Co-coordinators commenced yesterday afternoon at the PNG Electoral Commission head office, Hohola.
There are a total of fifteen (15) officials who are undergoing training.
This training is basically to know about their roles and responsibilities as contracted election officials, understanding the polling and counting process and procedures of this by-election, and managing the administrative roles and responsibilities.
An officer from the NCD Provincial Health Authority will also facilitate in the first level training to impart knowledge on the COVID-19 safety measures.
The first level Poll and Count Training is being facilitated by by-election Training Manager, Mr. Bale Kavanamur
The second level training for polling and counting officials will be conducted next week from the 24th to 28th May 2021 at the respective wards.
Refresher training for counting will be conducted just before the counting commences at the ward counting centers.
Acting Electoral Commissioner Mr. Simon Sinai said voting would be for one day for the entire electorate on Wednesday 2nd June 2021 and a total of about 89,000 eligible voters would participate in the by-election.
A total of 136 polling teams will conduct polling in the 5 wards of Moresby North West Open electorate.
The electoral roll will be arranged by locations in alpha split.
Voters will be required to check their names according to the first letter of their surname in the alpha split order to cast their votes.
Meanwhile, there will be two separate lines for voters to mark their ballot papers, one for male and the other for female and Persons with Disabilities.
There will be separate voting queues for electors so that women and girls would have their own entry point to cast their votes while men and boys would have their own.
In the meantime, the Acting Commissioner said the counting of first preference votes will be done at the respective wards while quality checks and eliminations will be done at the central counting venue.
Sinai further added, these were the same counting processes and procedures PNGEC used in the counting of ballots for the recent Bougainville, Goroka and Menyamya by-elections.
Voters are encouraged to bring their own biro to mark the ballot papers, and follow all COVID- 19 safety measures during polling.
Picture by: Kerebi David