Prime Minister James Marape has felt the need to fast track the implementation of the Biometric and Technology reforms in the electoral system to ensure a safe election, now that the 2027 National General Elections is just a year away.

Speaking at the Transforming Elections Through Biometrics & Technology Workshop in Port Moresby city this morning, Prime Minister Marape called on all state institutions, political parties, and development partners to “connect the dots” and work with urgency to modernize PNG’s electoral processes.

The Prime Minister said this is vital to preserving the sanctity of democracy in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

PM Marape reminded participants — including representatives from the Judiciary, Electoral Commission, National Statistics Office (NSO), Civil and Identity Registry (NID), and international partners such as the Philippines, Malaysia, and the United Nations — that the integrity of elections underpins PNG’s democracy.

“We are not playing monkey business here — the heart of democracy is people’s choice,” he said.

“Time is running out. A day wasted in conversation is a day lost for our country. My government is 100% committed to ensuring the people’s choice is protected and reflected in 2027 and beyond.”

The Prime Minister said biometric technology — incorporating fingerprint identification and unified national databases — would significantly reduce fraud, double voting, and manipulation in future elections.

“Technology is available, and it is time we use it to remove human interference and ensure transparent, credible results.”

PM Marape urged citizens not to fear digital transformation, pointing to nations such as India, where technology has enabled single-day voting and near-instant results.

He also called for greater coordination between agencies — particularly the NSO, NID, and Electoral Commission — to establish a single national population database that could underpin the electoral roll and all other government services.