PNGCE FOCUSSING ON PHOTO ELECTORAL ROLL

BY BENJAMIN KOITAKA

The photo Electoral Roll remains the top agenda & priority for PNG Electoral Commission as they continue a step closer to identify, protect and allow genuine eligible voters to cast the votes in the coming National General election.

Acting Electoral Commissioner Margreth Vagi stated that the Photo Electoral Roll update will go in conjunction with the Electoral Roll updates, which usually happens a months before the major general elections.

Acting Commissioner Vagi said Photo Electoral Roll and Electoral Roll Updates will be rolled out together this month and will end in September, and urged the citizens and eligible voters to confirm, verify and update their names alongside with their picture to vote in the 2027 National General Elections.

Vagi said common Electoral Roll updates will run together with Photo Electoral Roll to verify the votes, according to their names and face.

The PNGEC is currently actively executing a provincial rollout, verification, and awareness campaign. The project is not about building a completely new register from scratch, but rather capturing the photographs of voters already registered on the 2025 baseline roll, alongside adding newly eligible voters.

New Ireland Province became the first area to launch the Photo Roll exercise in January 2026 during the Kavieng Urban LLG Governor’s seat by-election.

The initiative targets all regions, with active roll display, verification, and photo capture exercises happening mid-2026 across the National Capital District (NCD), Southern Highlands (e.g., Mendi, Nipa, Ialibu Urban LLGs from June–July 2026), Western Province, East New Britain, and Enga