Counting for Kabwum by-election to be held in Lae

Counting for the Kabwum By-election will take place at the Sir Ignatius Kilage stadium’s indoor complex in Lae, with an estimated two days for Primary counts and one day for quality checks, before going into the elimination rounds.

Morobe’s Elections Manager, Simon Soheke told NBC News, that the whole counting process should take no more than seven days.

He said his officers have drawn up the tally sheets, and are ensuring other preparations are well underway before counting begins as soon as polling ends.

“We should start counting on the 26th of this month, but the stadium’s booked for a boxing championship, so we might delay and start on the 28th,” he said.

He went on to state that once polling ends, his office will transport 32 officials from Kabwum to Lae and accommodate them to be presiding officers at the counting.

“Bringing counting to Lae incurs additional costs but that won’t be a problem, thanks to the intervention from the office of the Deputy Prime Minister and member for Lae John Rosso who was Acting Prime Minister at the time, and the Morobe Provincial Administration [MPA] under the Morobe Provincial Government [MPG].”

With K1.2million from the National Government, K1.5million from the Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso, and the K500, 000 emergency support from the Morobe Provincial Government, Soheke said he is confident that the K3.2million will be enough to cover all the costs of completing this by-election.

“We are anticipating to complete counting before the 7th of August, so hopefully we should have a member elect for Kabwum by the 3rd or 4th of August, before the return of writs on the 22nd of August,” he said.