Morobe Election Manager Simon Soheke says nominations for the 2024 Local Level Government elections will open on tomorrow Thursday April 24th when the writs are issued.
He confirmed preparations are ongoing, but delays in paying Temporary Electoral Workers (TEWs) remains a concern after payments begun on Monday, April 14th.
Soheke said this is due to some TEWs not having bank accounts and are yet to be paid. They are still awaiting confirmation from the Bank of PNG for cash payments.
He said the Electoral Commission is also preparing for by-elections and the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) elections, which will run at the same time.
Polling for ABG will take place in five provinces outside Bougainville, including Morobe.
Candidates must pay a K200 nomination fee and lodge forms at their LLG chambers with the original bank deposit slip.
Soheke said Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) are yet to be deployed and trained but thanked the Morobe Provincial Administration for its support.
He called for National Government funding to be released quickly, saying, “If the funds come today, we can deliver.”