Tari Pori heads to polls today

Polling will take place today in the Tari Pori District, the home electorate of Prime Minister James Marape, as part of the ongoing Local Level Government [LLG] elections in Hela Province.

Hela Provincial Election Manager, John Tipa, confirmed that all arrangements are in place for voters in Tari Pori to cast their ballots throughout the day.

Tipa also announced that the Koroba-Lake Kopiago District, the province’s largest electorate in terms of Local Level Governments (LLGs) and wards, will be the final district to hold polling, scheduled for this Thursday.

"Polling in Komo-Hulia and Magarima Districts was conducted successfully,” Tipa said. “I would like to commend the polling officials for their excellent work, and extend special thanks to community and church leaders who supported officials to ensure a free, fair, and safe polling process. Their involvement was vital for an orderly declaration of results."

According to Mr. Tipa, each of the four electorates in Hela have been allotted three days to complete polling, a measure adopted due to ongoing security concerns in the province.

He told NBC News that voting in Komo-Hulia and Magarima were completed peacefully, with no major incidents reported. He emphasized the importance of wrapping up the elections within the time frame set by the Electoral Commission of Papua New Guinea.

Tipa also expressed his appreciation to the Hela Provincial Government, led by Governor Philip Undialu, and the four District Development Authorities for their support and cooperation throughout the electoral process. He further acknowledged the efforts of security personnel on the ground, whose presence contributed to the peaceful conduct of polling in the completed electorates.

With the focus now shifting to Tari Pori and Koroba-Lake Kopiago, election officials are hopeful that the remainder of the LLG elections will proceed smoothly, ensuring that all eligible citizens have their voices heard in the democratic process.