JANUARY 18 2022
Prime Minister Hon. James Marape says counting of people for the 2022 General Election will continue at the council level as well as through the Common Roll update being conducted by the Electoral Commission.
He said the 2020 National Census was not held as scheduled due to COVID-19 and the politics at that time.
PM Marape said this in response to questions from Rabaul MP, Hon. Dr Allan Marat, relating to the Papua New Guinea population, and population update in view of the elections.
He said the Electoral Commission would give an update this week on updating of the Common Roll.
“Let me assure our citizens that the Common Roll update, and knowing the population we have, are very important,” PM Marape said.
“Whilst the latest population update (census) may not have taken place, let me point one important fact: Population growth rate of our country of our country is known at an average rate of 3 to 3.1 per cent.”
The Prime Minister said using data from the 2011 Census, there should not be an “abnormal explosion” in population, in all electorates.
He said the Common Roll could be updated using the data already on hand, from the 2012 and 2017 elections as well as the 2011 Census, for any one electorate.
PM Marape said he did not know the actual population of Papua New Guinea as asked by Dr Marat, however, assured the country that every person had the right to be included on the Common Roll.
“There should not be any extraordinary (population) blowout in one polling place, one village, one LLG or one district,” he said.
“Let me assure everyone in this Parliament, and throughout the country, that we are very-conscious of the need to have good data and roll update to ensure the integrity of the election.
“This is something that we will be ticking off.
“I encourage all leaders here to assist the process and to use 2012 and 2017 (common rolls) as benchmarks to eliminate those who have died, or bring into the Common Roll those who have moved from childhood to above 18.
“We’re conscious of the need to have a high integrity population database to facilitate the 2022 elections.”
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