While the by-election period was notably peaceful and free of major conflict, severe structural issues were observed at the polling booths. Security personnel and observers noted the widespread practice of katim vote, a way of block voting where groups of individuals override individual choice to secure first-preference votes for a community endorsed candidate.The IPPCC observers have noted that this practice directly undermines the constitutional right to a secret ballot. These findings align with recent warnings from Acting Electoral Commissioner, Margaret Vagi, who emphasized during a 2026 workshop that block voting compromises democratic integrity and weakens the core of a representative democracy. To protect individual voter agreement, future electoral management must strictly enforce constitutional voting protocols.
Thin Party Participation and the Need for OLIPPACC Awareness
A primary concern for the Registry was the remarkably low level of institutional party engagement. Out of 25 contesting candidates, only one was formally endorsed by a registered political party, Jeremiah Pim, running under the People First Party banner. The remaining 24 candidates contested as independents. Field interviews revealed that a vast majority of voters lacked a basic understanding of the role, mandate, and importance of political parties within PNG’s democratic system. Voting behavior remains heavily dictated by tribal loyalties, candidate personalities, and family legacies rather than party policies or organizational platforms. For the Registry, this highlights an urgent need for strong, nationwide ward-level awareness campaigns to educate electors on how political parties stabilize and drive parliamentary democracy.
Marginalization of Women in the Electoral Process
The observation team reported a blunt shortfall in inclusive participation, with zero female candidates contesting the by-election, deeply male-dominated system continue to lower women to minor roles, effectively shutting them out of active political engagement. Interviews with local women indicated that aggressive atmospheres at polling venues and cultural barriers prevent them from exercising their democratic rights. Many expressed fear or indifference, noting that the dominance of male voters makes it extremely difficult for women to have a meaningful voice at the ballot box.
Recommendations for the 2027 Roadmap
To ensure that the 2027 National General Election is free, fair, safe and truly inclusive, the IPPCC observation team has suggested the following urgent policy recommendations based on direct community feedback.Implementation of Electronic Voting: Transitioning toward biometric or electronic voting mechanisms, the use of photo roll to eliminate the physical intimidation related with block voting and ballot tampering. Mandatory NIC Verification: Integrating National Identification (NID) cards into the voter enrollment and verification process to clean up the common roll. Gender-Segregated Polling Booths: Establishing dedicated, separate polling areas for women to ensure they can cast their ballots safely, independently, and without external coercion. Proactive Party Campaigns Encouraging registered political parties to maintain a continuous, visible presence through policy awareness year-round, rather than surfacing during brief campaign windows. The Registry’s observation team has concluded that by addressing these structural weaknesses and updating the Code of Conduct, PNG can better safeguard the integrity of its electoral systems and foster a more responsible political culture.