Today 242 polling places are opening across Papua New Guinea's autonomous region of Bougainville for its independence referendum.
Polling underway in Bougainville's independence referendum at Hutjena Station. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Johnny Blades
Bougainville's president, John Momis, cast the first vote in the historic non-binding referendum on Saturday in Buka.
Polling has also begun this morning in Gizo, Solomon Islands, and Cairns, Australia.
The two week polling period began without incident on Saturday in 21 locations - 11 in Bougainville and 10 in main provincial centres in other parts of PNG.
The majority of polling will take place in the next several days until Friday.
A result is to be announced in mid-December.
However, to come into effect, the vote outcome has to be ratified by PNG's Parliament, and is expected to be subject to a negotiation process which could take months or years.
Voters file through a polling booth in Buka town to cast their vote for the Bougainville independence referendum. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Johnny Blades
