ABC Asia Pacific
Optimism over new voting system in PNG
December 11, 2003
Papua New
Guinea's electoral commissioner says he is confident the limited
preferential voting system will work well in the country's future
elections.
The acting commissioner, Andrew Trawen, made the
statement as system is tested for the first time in a by-election
for one of the country's 109 parliamentary seats.
Mr Trawen
says voting in the Abau electorate, which ends on Thursday night -
two days ahead of schedule - has demonstrated how the people have
understood the limited preferential voting system.
He says
voters cast their first, second and third preferences without much
trouble.
Mr Trawen says couting under tight security starts
next week and a new member will be declared after the new year.
Our reporter in PNG, Firmin Nanol, says a national court
ordered the by-election after declaring the election of former
public service minister, Dr Puka Temu, null and void after finding
him guilty of bribery and putting undue influence on voters in last
year's general elections |