The Electoral Commission has allowed the LLG election to be extended by a further 7 days, to allow all wards across the country to complete polling and counting. In a statement late Friday, Electoral Commissioner, Patilitas Gamato, says the polling and counting period is now extended to Thursday, the first of August, with the return of writs on Friday, the second of August. Manus Province is only electorate to have completed its election, returning all its writs yesterday (Friday July 26). Hela, Western Highlands and Southern Highlands are continuing counting and are expected to declare final results. Polling and counting is continuing in West Sepik, East Sepik, Madang, Morobe, Northern, Milne Bay, Central, Gulf, Western, East and West New Britain, New Ireland, Enga, Jiwaka, Chimbu and Eastern Highlands. Mr Gamato says the extension was expected, because of the 6,369 wards in the country, the Electoral Commission only received 30-percent of the results as of Thursday July 25. The LLG election was initially scheduled to end yesterday, Friday July 26, with the writs to be returned to the Inter-Government Relations Minister. However, Commissioner Gamato says provincial operations were delayed for reasons beyond the commission's control, such the challenging geography of PNG, bad weather and inadequate and untimely processing of funds. Outstanding payments from past elections was also an impediment in engaging officials, and some violence in Jiwaka and Enga also caused delays in polling and counting. NBC News Next : Hela Governor Undialu To Appeal Recount Decision Comments are closed.
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