by Eric Haurupma – EM TV News, Port Moresby
The National Capital District (NCD) will be the first province in the country to carry out a photo project, to prepare for the upcoming 2017 national elections.
This project is an initiative by NCDC and supported by the Electoral Commission, to avoid informal voting during polls.
NCD Governor, Powes Parkop, presented a cheque for K197,100 to the PNG Electoral Commission to implement this project in Port Moresby.
He said elections are a democratic process and they must not be interfered with or influenced in anyway
Upon receiving the cheque, Electoral Commissioner, Patilias Gamato, said this great support would go towards the implementation of this pilot project across the city.
Electoral Commissioner Gamato said this project is a way of forming identification during the election period.
Gamato said election officials will be able to identify voters names against their ID photos during elections.
According to NCD Provincial Elections Manager, Terence Hetinu, this concept will update the common rolls and prevent informal voting.
He said incidences of double voting, unregistered names in the common roll and under-age voting will now be avoided.
The NCD Provincial Elections Manager said this viable project is an exciting prospect leading up to the 2017 general elections.
