BOUGAINVILLE REFERENDUM COMMISSION EXTENDS REFERENDUM ENROLMENT PERIOD TO 23 JUNE
The Bougainville Referendum Commission today extended the voter enrolment period to allow for all eligible voters to enrol on the Referendum Roll.
The Bougainville Referendum Commission thanks people for their great response in working together with local Ward Recorders to update the referendum roll with new voters.
Chief Referendum Officer Mauricio Claudio said over the last week, Bougainvilleans across the region have turned out in large numbers to ensure they can vote in the October Referendum.
The Commission decided that the opportunity to enrol should be extended to 23 June.
“The Bougainville Referendum Commission started enrolment in early June and we’ve been thrilled with the great response, with voters turning out in large numbers to enrol,” Claudio said.
“The Commission had anticipated it would take two weeks to conduct this second phase of the enrolment process to enrol new voters, but decided today that an extension will give Ward Recorders more time in each area to enrol all those eligible and interested to vote, and so the process should be extended to 23 June.”
The Commission called on all Bougainvilleans to continue supporting their Ward Recorders as they travel through villages to enrol new voters, especially as it was Bougainvilleans themselves who told the Commission that given the large number of Bougainvilleans not on the original 2015 ABG elections roll, a full enrolment period was vital.
“We must all work together to produce a high quality and inclusive Referendum Roll according to the rules and regulations,” Claudio said.
The Commission continues to provide awareness sessions across Bougainville, and Ward Recorders are visiting all towns and villages. Any qualified Bougainvillean who will be 18 on 12 October should enrol during this process. In the coming months, the Commission will display a draft referendum roll in all Wards so that people can check their names and confirm their enrolment.
For Bougainvilleans living outside Bougainville in Papua New Guinea, the Commission will also start enrolment in Port Moresby on 15 June, and on 19 June elsewhere, through all 21 PNG Electoral Commission provincial offices. The Commission will provide separate awareness for these voters.
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