Arrangements for persons with disability (PWDs) to vote in the upcoming National General Elections has not been made clear as yet by the PNG Electoral Commission raising concerns from the PNG Assembly of Disabled Persons (PNGADP).
A report by the Media Development Initiative stated that PNGADP Co-chair Jacqueline Garoau had said that there has not been efficient consultations with the PNGEC around disability access to polling and enrolment.
In the 2017 National General Elections in NCD, PWDs were allowed to vote in a separate polling station at the Cheshire Disability Services at Hohola.
This was the only station for the whole of NCD and the polling team received only half of the ballot papers they requested for in addition to their request to have two more polling stations in each of the other two electorates.
Cheshire Disability Services have also confirmed that there is yet to be a similar arrangement with the PNGEC for the 2022 NGE.
The report concluded in questioning whether or not there is a strategy in place for ensuring PDWs have access to polling and enrolling and how and where those who live in remote areas will be able to access polling venues to post their votes.