ENROLMENT

Every qualified, adult PNG citizen must register on the electoral roll and cast his or her own vote. You can only enrol in one (1) electorate – which is your current place of residence. It is illegal to enrol more than once, or enrol in other electorates, other than where you currently live. Every eligible citizen has only one (1) vote. To exercise your right to vote, you must cast your own vote. Your vote is private. The secrecy of your vote is protected in law. No one has the right to know who you voted for – or to force you to vote for any candidate. It is illegal to bribe, force or threaten you to enrol in an electorate other than where you are qualified, or to vote for any particular candidate.

1. What is Enrolment?

Enrolment is the act of registering one's name on the Electoral Roll.

2. Why Enrol?

It is compulsory for every qualified voter in Papua New Guinea to register their name on the Electoral Roll, as stipulated under the Organic Law on National and Local Level Government Elections. If a voter is not on the Electoral Roll, he or she cannot vote. If you cannot vote, you will not have your say in choosing the representative that you want in Parliament.

3. Who can Enrol?

To qualify for enrolment in an electorate, you must:

  1. be a citizen of Papua New Guinea
  2. be 18 years of age and older
  3. be of sound mind
  4. currently live within the electorate for six (6) months or more.

4. How to Enrol?

Qualified voters must complete and sign an enrolment form for their names to be included on the Electoral Roll for their electorate of residence.

5. So how do I know my correct electorate?

Your electorate is determined according to law – and that is, by your current place of residence. If you have lived in your current place of residence for six months or more and fulfil all the other criteria for enrolment, you must enrol in the electorate in which your place of residence, falls within. By doing that, you would have enrolled in the correct electorate.

6. Where to Enrol?

If your name is not on the Electoral Roll now, you should consult your Provincial Election Manager, Local-Level Government (LLG) Manager, or the Electoral Commission, Port Moresby.

7. When to Enrol?

It is important that you enrol as soon as you qualify for enrolment. The last date for enrolment is before the Issue of Writs.

8. My name is on the Electoral Roll for more than one electorate. What does that mean?

That means that you are incorrectly enrolled. Under the law, you are qualified to be enrolled in only 1 electorate, and this is the electorate which covers your current place of residence in the past six months. Please contact your Provincial Election Manager or the Electoral Commission if you are enrolled in a place other than your current place of residence.

9. I am not yet 18 years old, but will be turning 18 before the elections. Can I have my name put on the electoral roll now so that I will be able to vote in the elections?

You can only put your name on the electoral roll if you are 18 years or older. If you will turn 18 years before the elections, you can however now apply for provisional enrolment through completing a “Claim for Enrolment Form” via ticking the box on provisional enrolment and completing all the necessary sections. Your details will then be put on the electoral roll when you’ve turned 18 years old.

10. I am a Person with a Disability (PWD), and I would like to enrol and vote. What should I do?

Persons with a Disability (PWD) have a right to enrol and vote. Please contact your provincial Election Manager or the PNG Electoral Commission for further information on enrolling and voting.