The Commonwealth Observer team monitoring Papua New Guinea's election is taking note of complaints about electoral roll flaws.
The chair of the Commonwealth Observer team sent to monitor Papua New Guinea's 2017 election Sir Anand Satyanand. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
Midway through the two-week polling period, people of voting age in many electorates have found that their names are not on the roll.
The head of the observer team, Sir Anand Satyanand, said the issue had at times been met by the Electoral Commission through use of national identity numbers or reverting to the 2012 roll.
While observer teams traditionally submit their reports after an election, PNG voters on social media have been voicing concern that observers should speak up about problems now.
Addressing questions about his team's response to issues with the roll, Sir Anand said they would assess the extent of these problems in a week's time, at conclusion of polling.
But it plays into the gov't's rhetoric of a successful election. Best to have Observers more frank now instead of waiting till the end
— Bal Kama (@BalKama5) July 1, 2017
Sir Anand explained that his team was in PNG to observe in an independent way, but was not to be responsible for the conduct of the election.
But he admitted there was a potential danger that if an election was unfair, the presence of observers could be seen to endorse the process.
"However on the other side is the matter that all these people are experienced electoral process observers who are very used to talking to all sorts of people," he said.
"There's a line between what the government does and the Electoral Commission provides, and - on the other side - the observer groups."
Sir Anand said PNG people had been very forthcoming in asking questions and making their views known to observers.
According to him, his team's report would still be timely.
"It won't be very long after the counting and it will be in a form that the government will be advised of the things that a team has seen and shortcomings, if any, will be identified and recommendations made."
