All polling for Morobe province, according to the electoral commission’s schedule, was to begin on the 23rd of June.
However, Menyamya polling was three days late, it began on the 27th because of late dispatch of police personnel; police personnel did not receive their allowance on time to be dispatched; and the weather was a major hindrance that delayed polling for the electorate.
Meantime, Bulolo and Markham did begin polling on the 23rd as scheduled, despite facing the same issues as Menyamya.
Returning officer for Bulolo, Raune Jombat said for the six LLGs under the Bulolo electorate, Buang and Mumeng have completed all polling and ballot papers have been transported out to the counting venue. Other four have yet to complete polling.
He said a separate polling will be done at the Hidden Valley Gold mine. Electoral officials are awaiting company confirmation to allow them to carry out polling for mine workers.
From the report given by Markham’s Returning Officer Simon Soheke, about forty-three-thousand people were registered to vote, however, many people did not find their names in the common roll.
He said the administration there was quite helpful in assisting the security officials with transport, communication, and fuel; so that has helped in keeping polling going for Markham.
He said eight of the ten teams dispatched to the three LLGs have completed polling; only two teams to complete polling come next Monday or Tuesday, for counting to begin on 09th July.
Meanwhile, Menyamya’s Returning officer Fidelis Harisol said Twenty-eight teams were dispatched to polling sites in the fourLLGs, Kome, Wapi, Kapao and Aseki.
He said they are still trying for three days now to get four teams out to the LLGs that are located at the Gulf Morobe border.
Mr Harisol said the common roll was not done properly and a lot of the people did not have their names on the common roll as well.
All three districts are scheduled to finish polling on the 3rd of July.
