12 Jul 2017

PNG electoral committee resigns in interests of integrity

From , 5:04 am on 12 July 2017

Members of a key electoral body which can assess where there could be grounds to fail Papua New Guinea's national election in certain electorates have resigned as a collective.

As PNG's lengthy election has entered vote counting stage, complaints about a faulty electoral roll and irregular ballot distribution have created pressure on electoral officials to declare a failed election in some electorates.

But this week the Electoral Advisory Committee's three members resigned only a month into their job.

One of the committee's members Richard Kassman explained that they could not do justice to their role because the Electoral Commission had not allowed them access to information they required to assess the election.

Polling booths in Papua New Guinea's 2017 national election.

Polling booths in Papua New Guinea's 2017 national election. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades