Bougainville landmark voting rescheduled to Friday amid ballot delivery delays
The Autonomous Region of Bougainville’s election commission has postponed its general election by one day.
The single-day polling originally set for Thursday, September 4, 2025, will now take place on Friday, September 5, 2025, excluding the Atolls constituency, which remains on schedule.
This stems from the late arrival of ballot papers. Initially printed in Port Moresby, the final shipment of ballots was delayed until September 2, well past the original August 23 delivery date.
This compressed timeframe left insufficient margin for packing and distributing the materials for polling on 4 September.
Additionally, quality control concerns emerged regarding the serial numbers printed on the ballots, an essential safeguard against fraud, and prompted officials to take corrective measures before proceeding.
Electoral Commissioner Desmond Tsianai emphasised that the decision was not taken lightly but deemed necessary to uphold a fair and transparent process.
“Every eligible voter should have the opportunity to cast their ballots. Rescheduling polling at this stage is the most responsible decision to ensure that all ballot papers are delivered securely so that all Bougainvilleans can vote on the same day. This step protects the rights of voters and upholds the integrity of the election,” Commissioner Tsianai said.
The Atolls constituency remains an exception, as its ballots were already on track for delivery in time, and hence its polling proceeds as planned on Thursday.
Global South World reported that this year’s general election marks the first-ever one-day polling model for Bougainville. With 46 seats in the House of Representatives up for grabs—including newly added constituencies—and a competitive presidential race, the region is poised for a crucial junction in its political journey.
Over 404 candidates are vying for parliamentary seats, including a record 34 women across both reserved and open-competition seats, while the presidential contest features seven candidates challenging incumbent Ishmael Toroama.
On Friday, 5 September, polling stations across the Autonomous Region will open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Bougainville Standard Time. With over 3,000 electoral staff mobilised to ensure smooth operations, the election is expected to proceed with minimal disruption.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
