The announcement by the PNG Electoral Commission for one-day polling in Dei Open and New Ireland Provincial seat by-elections has raised concerns amongst voters, candidates and other citizens around the country.
Discussing it on social media platforms, they said due to logistical and security challenges, the one-day polling set for January 19 is not practical.
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With the next General Elections being 16 months away, Acting Electoral Commissioner, Margaret Vagi, confirmed this week, on January 19, 2026, that polling for both seats will take place as scheduled.
She remained everyone that the campaign period will officially end on Friday, January 16, 2026, at midnight.
Acting Electoral Commissioner Vagi said all polling materials are expected to arrive in the respective electorates next week and will be distributed according to the number of polling teams in each electorate.
She added that there will be 57 polling teams for Dei Open and 156 polling teams for the New Ireland Provincial seat.
“Counting will commence immediately after all ballot boxes have been safely extracted and taken to the main counting center,” she told a media conference.
Vagi said that, with less than two weeks remaining before polling, the elections have been progressing smoothly since the writs were issued last year on December 4.
“I commend everyone for conducting yourselves peacefully and allowing the smooth progress of the by-elections so far,” she said.
Mrs. Vagi said that since polling and counting will be happening at the start of the school year, all necessary measures are being put in place in consultation with relevant stakeholders to ensure classes are not disrupted.
Both seats were vacant following the deaths of the respective leaders while serving as members of the 10th Parliament.
She said New Ireland has recorded 10 candidates contesting for the provincial seat. Dei Open has 25 candidates vying for the seat.