Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato today made separate decisions on seven intending candidates who required clearance to nominate and contest the 2017 National Election. This is after various lawyers of intending candidates and candidates sought clearance from the Electoral Commissioner to nominate and contest various seats in the country.

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato says political parties are allowed by law to endorse only one candidate to contest in one electorate and not more than one candidate. This follows scenarios during the nomination period this week where political parties have been cited for endorsing more than one candidate in an electorate.

The 2017 National Election is on. Governor General His Excellency Bob Dadae signed and issued the 111 election writs for 89 Open electorates and 22 Provincial electorates to signal the official commencement of the 2017 election program. Nominations also opened which saw a number of sitting MPs and new candidates nominating to contest the 2017 election.

The PNG Electoral Commission wishes to advise all intending candidates for the 2017 National Election that deposit slips to pay their nomination fees are now available nationwide for collection.

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato says the people of Papua New Guinea should not be confused with the 2017 election ballot papers with candidate posters by election commentators. Candidate photographs are not placed on the ballot papers and are different from candidate posters.

The preliminary electoral roll for the 2017 National Election has been completed following the completion of data entry in all the 22 provinces last week. Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato said that he is quite pleased with the tremendous effort put in by temporary electoral workers in updating the roll.