Madang AROs threaten to walk off

The 21 Assistant Returning Officers for the 21 Local Level Governments in Madang Province are threatening to walk off their election duties this Friday, as a sign of protest over the reduction in the number of polling teams per LLG.

The Electoral Commissioner, Simon Sinai; has announced the "two polling teams per LLG" during a first level training of election managers in Port Moresby last month.

The Madang AROs say the two teams per LLG are not enough for the 14 days of polling.

They expressed this in a meeting yesterday.

The population in some wards is huge/, and the geography of some wards is difficult and cannot be covered by two teams in two weeks.

Sokiya Philkasim, Assistant Returning Officer for Usino LLG says they are giving the Electoral Commission until Friday this week to respond to their concern, or they will all quit their election duties.

The Madang AROs formalizing their concern, which they will send the Electoral Commissioner today.