Vagi takes tough stand on election fraud

Acting PNG Electoral Commissioner, Margaret Vagi (Image: PNGEC)

The PNG Electoral Commission, has directed the Returning Officer of the Dei Open Electorate by-election race, to set aside two ballot boxes, and proceed with counting to declaration.

Acting Electoral Commissioner, Margaret Vagi in a statement says, she is now using her powers under the Organic Law, to direct the Returning Officer, to exercise his powers under Section 153 (A) of the Organic Law, to reject the counting of the two disputed ballot boxes.

Ms Vagi said that she has received overwhelming reports from voters, the Presiding Officer, police men, and a video that is being circulated widely, that there is evidence of foul play.

She said that voting in Rulna Ward 10 in the Kotna LLG, was hijacked by a few people, who managed to mark a total of 1,261 ballot papers, in less than three hours.

Ms Vagi also said that the ballot papers used at Rulna had serial numbers for another polling place, which is Rang 1.

Locals wait in line to cast their vote in the Dei Open by-election. This picture was taken at the polling venue for Penda 1 and 2 Kinjibi Ward, Mala LLG (Image: PNGEC)

The acting Electoral Commissioner has also directed the Returning Officer to remove all the votes from candidates who have received votes from Rang 1, and put them in a separate box, which will be marked as rejected votes, before going into elimination.

Ms Vagi said that she will not continue to allow this behaviour to go on unchecked and burden the Courts again, but put her foot down and fix it, where and when she can.

This action by the Acting Electoral Commissioner has attracted a lot of praise from a lot of Papua New Guineans, who have taken to social media when this statement was shared.