Kundiawa-Gembogl ballot boxes verified and await funding for recount

The PNG Electoral Commission has confirmed it can now comply with the National Court order for a recount of the Kundiawa-Gembogl Open electorate in Simbu, following a successful verification of ballot boxes in Kundiawa today.

The verification exercise was conducted at the Kundiawa Police Station in a transparent manner, witnessed by key stakeholders and members of the public.

PNG Electoral Commissioner Dr. Nicole Haley said the inspection was witnessed by legal counsels for both the applicant and the respondent, two witnesses nominated by each party, a delegate registrar from Goroka, the Kundiawa Police Station Commander, and police personnel from Kundiawa and Goroka.

She said the primary purpose of the exercise was to ascertain and identify the ballot boxes from the 2021-2022 National General Election.

"We have now confirmed the ballot boxes are intact, so the court order can be complied with," Dr. Haley said.

She stressed that transparency would be maintained throughout the recount process.

"According to the court order, the recount must be conducted in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province. The decision was made to diffuse political tensions in Kundiawa and ensure the recount proceeds peacefully," she said.

She said the container holding the ballot boxes will now be transported from Kundiawa to Goroka under police escort.

She said they are now work on logistics and costing and will seek funding to facilitate the transfer and conduct of the recount.

The court-ordered recount for Kundiawa-Gembogl follows a lengthy election petition challenging the 2022 National General Election result.