Polling for Kavieng Open Electorate pushes through after claims of ballot papers discrepancies were denied by New Ireland Returning Officer, Mr. Benjamin Kliawi.
Despite aired grievances by candidates due to word of having inconsistency in ballot paper numbers claimed to have been found during quality check over the weekend.
New Ireland Provincial Returning Officer Mr. Benjamin Kliawi has denied this claim and allowed for polling to continue after confirming with the candidate scrutineers that the physical number of ballot papers counted in the quality check, corresponds with the numbers on the dispatched listing.
He said any claims of discrepancies on the ballot paper numbers must have its evidence provided to the electoral commission to show proof.
Otherwise, it is an administrative matter that will be dealt with according to the electoral commission’s protocol to erase doubts that has caused confusion that resulted in the delayed polls.
Polling for Kavieng Urban started hours later than schedule while Tikana, Murat and Lovongai LLG polling teams will insert into their respective polling venues today.
Kavieng Open candidates and scrutineers fronted up at the Police station early hours this Monday (4h July) morning following a written petition addressed to New Ireland PPC, Chief Inspector, Felix Nebanat.
The petition signed by nine (9) candidates requested the Electoral Commissioner to formally verify the reason for the ballot papers not adding up and to stop the deployment of polling teams until all satisfactory clarification is received.
PPC Nebanat made clarification on his role as chief of security for the province that his responsibility is to protect the integrity of the election process by maintaining neutralism to ensure there is a free fair and safe election for New Ireland and that the electoral commission is responsible for the clarification.
The situation has been controlled with the presence of all members of the joint security force holding the ground. Meanwhile polling for Namatanai proceeds without delay with polling teams making insertion into polling venues yesterday, Sunday 03rd July.