PNG election counting update 2022 - daily summary

As the PNG elections are in the counting phase, we bring you a daily 'summary update' of the candidates declared; and party affiliate leading up to the 29th of July 2022. 

For the latest updates, twists and turns, and politics leading to the formation of the 11th parliament, click here.

Updated: PNG national election 2022 counting updates

Leading Political Party Candidates Tally

• Pangu Pati (Leader - James Marape) x14 declared

• People's National Congress, PNC (Leader - Peter O'Neill) x7 declared

• United Resource Party, URP (Leader - William Duma) x4 declared

• People's Party, PP (Leader - Dr William Tongamp) x3
• Social Democratic Party, SDP (Leader - Powes Parkop) x2

• Peoples Progress Party, PPP (Leader - Sir Julius Chan) x1 declared
• People's First Party, PFP (Leader - Richard Maru) x1
• United Labour Party, ULP (Leader - Lekwa Gure) x1
• National Alliance, NA (Leader - Patrick Pruaitch) x2
• Labor Party, LP (Leader - John Pundari) x1
• People's Reform Party, PRP (Leader - James Donald) x1
• PNG Party (Leader - Belden Namah) x1
• Independent x2

Total winning candidates declared to date = 40

Provincial/Regional seats Declared

• Manus - Charlie Benjamin, Pangu (polled over 13,234 absolute majority)
• Bougainville/AROB - Peter Tsamalili Jr, Pangu (polled 42,928 votes)
• West Sepik - Allan Bird, National Alliance,  NA (polled 127,315 votes)
• Enga - Sir Peter Ipatas, People's Party (polled 172,653 votes)
• East New Britain - Michael Marum, Independent (polled 33,285 votes)
• New Ireland - Sir Julius Chan People's Progress Party (PPP) polled 31,717 ballot votes.
• Hela - Philip Undialu, Pangu Pati polled 118,113 votes.

Open electorates MPs Declared

Summary of winning candidates by dates and ballot votes, including their party affiliation. 

Compiled from official sources - NBC News, PNG EC, EMTV and Post Courier news releases.

29 July 2022

• Vanimo Green - Belden Namah, PNG Party, polled 10,213 votes.
• Ambunti/Drekikier - Johnson Wapunai, PNC (polled 11,842 votes)
• Telefomin Open - Solan Mirisim, Pangu (polled votes)
• Esa'ala Open - Jimmy Maladina, Pangu (polled 9,359 votes)
• Menyamya Open - Solen Loifa, Independent (polled 18,397 votes)

Declared 28th July 2022

• North Fly - James Donald, PRP (polled 12,648 votes)
• Central Bougainville -  Fr Simon Dumarinu, SDP (polled 12,263 votes)
• Moresby South - Justin Tkatchenko, SDP (polled 28,111 ballot votes)
• Nuku Open - Joe Sungi, Pangu (polled 9,239 votes)

Declared 27th July 2022

• Gazelle Open - Zelta Wong, URP (polled 9,334 votes)
• Hagen Open - William Dume, United Resource Party, URP (polled 48, 528)

Declared 26th July 2022

• Talasea Open - Freddie Reu Kumai, PP (polled 7,275 ballot votes)
• Kokopo Open - Ereman ToBaining Jnr, PNC (polled 12,053 ballot votes)

Declared 25th July 2022

• South Bougainville Open - Timothy Masiu, Pangu (polled 14,404 votes) 
• Finschhafen Open - Rainbo Paita, Pangu (polled 23,504 votes)
• Kompiam Ambum - Sir John Pundari, Labor Party, LP (polled 28,963 votes)
• Namatanai Open - Walter Schnaubelt, National Alliance, NA (polled 16,454 votes)
• South Bougainville - Timothy Masiu, Pangu (polled 14, 404 votes)
• Wabag Open - Dr Lino Tom, People's Party, PP (polled 35,782 votes)
• Bulolo Open - Sam Basil Jr., United Labour Party, ULP (polled 16, 072 votes)

Declared 24th July 2022

• Kiriwina-Goodenough Open - Douglas Tomuriesa, PNC (polled 9,555)
• Kendrian Gloucester Open - Joseph Lelang, PNC

Declared 23rd July 2022

• Non

Declared 22nd July 2022

• Non

Declared 21 July 2022

• Maprik Open - Gabriel Kapris, PNC (polled 16,657 ballot votes)

Declared 21 July 2022

• Huon Gulf Open - Jason Peter, URP (polled 19,585 votes)
• Yongoru-Saussia - MP Richard Maru, People's First Party, PFP  (polling 17,075 votes)

Declared 20 July 2022

• Kavieng Open - Ian Ling Stuckey, Pangu Pati (polled 12,523 votes)

Declared 19 July 2022

• Yalibu Pangia Open - Peter O'Neill, PNC (polled 45,106)
• Rabaul Open - Graham P Rumet, Pangu Pati (polled 5,192 votes)
• Komo Hulia Open - Daniel Tindipu Pangu Pati (polled 12,788 votes)
• Koroba Lake Kopiago - William Bando, United Resource Party, URP (polled 36,587 votes)

Declared 18 July 2022

• Pomio Open  - Elias Kapavore, People's National Congress (PNC) Party (polled 11,949 first preference votes)
• Magarima Open declared 18 July 2022 - Manasseh Makiba Pangu Pati (votes received 20,753)

• Lae Open declared 17 July 2022 - John Rosso  Pangu Pati (first preference votes 26,864)

• Tari Pori declared 10 July 2022- James Marape Pangu Pati (first preference votes 39,877)

IMPORTANT: If your child/sibling is affected by the election, help him/her. Get free PNG Maths Resources (Exam papers, Units and Topics, Worksheets and Teachers Resource). An initiative of PNG Insight - giving back to the community. Get the free PNG maths resources NOW.

PNG national election 2022 counting updates

PNG election counting update 2022 - summary

Most provinces are in the counting stage.

Simbu and Western Highlands are the last provinces to go into polling. It starts on Monday 18th July 2022. Only 8 days for polling and counting for these two provinces.

Deferral of Return of Writs, Unconstitutional

The deferral of RoW for a further 2 weeks to 14th August 2022 is unconstitutional, but there is a small window of time from the 29th July to 3rd August like in past elections, said the former Chief Justice and stateman, Sir Arnold Amet. 

He said in this news report that the 'fixed date for the return of writs is critically tied to the 5th anniversary of the date fixed for the return of writs from the previous elections'.

Section 105 of the Constitution provides for the fixed dates for the national elections to be held within 3 months of the 5th anniversary of the date fixed for the return of writs.

The PNG EC is going out of the time bound for the RoW and into 'unconstitutional territory.

PNG Electoral Commission under pressure

The electoral commission is under pressure to complete counting before the 29th of July 2022. 

They can be happy now as the date for the return of writs has been extended for a further 2 weeks.

The counting and declaration will continue until the 12th of August 2022.

Comment and let our readers know about the latest from your electorates.

PNG EC 2022 Election Updates

The Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission (PNG EC) released the tentative dates for the 2022 national general election in May 2021. That was almost a year before the national elections. 

PNG Insight gives detail on this and the countdown to the major election activities here (countdown to major election events). You can also get the deferral dates from the updated article.

Latest on PNG election counting update 2022

PNG Electoral Commission 2022 Election Dates Updates

The electoral commission has to either stick to the tentative dates or risk losing time. Moving the dates around can affect election timing which can impact the election 2022 program.

As planned, each activity is given enough time and is in line with the past election dates. Here is the breakdown according to the current (tentative) arrangement:

• Intending candidates have 7 days to make their election nominations. 
• The window of 7 weeks campaign period from the close of the nomination to the start of polling. 
• Polling will take place over 2 weeks (14 days). 
• Counting of elections is scheduled to take place over a period of 3 weeks initially. It was changed to 6 weeks, then to just 1 week. (For an unknown reason, counting is now planned for only 1 week)
• 2022 PNG National General Election takes place over a period of 13.5 weeks.
• Return of Writs is pegged to the 29th of July 2022.

Here is what TI PNG said about the important election deadlines. 

'Section 105 of the National Constitution states that a general election to the Parliament shall be held within the period of three months before the fifth anniversary of the day fixed for the return of the writs for the previous general election.' PNGTI https://t.co/P0p1UCKVlL

— P.N.G. Insight (@PNG_Insight) April 25, 2022

2022 PNG Election tentative dates changes

All election-related events (nomination, campaign, polling, counting, writs) have been allocated sufficient time, that is why there is no need to change the tentative date. 

However, in the past elections, we saw the campaign period was reduced, and counting was extended in some parts of the country. 

In fact, this had affected the 'return of writs'. And lead to a whole lot of inconveniences.

Remember last election when Gumine Open has two elected MPs sitting in 1st parliament sitting? That's a clear example of PNG EC incompetency.

What we now see is an act of naivety by the PNG EC when it leaves the election dates in limbo, nevertheless.

Funding can be an issue. But the govt/treasury has no right, but excuses, to withhold funding.

Inevitably, the 2022 PNG election has been deferred by two weeks citing preparations for the 7 new electorates.

Return of Writs is pegged to the 1st of August 2022. We made an adjustment to our earlier article. 

PNG EC need to rely on experience, wisdom,  judgement

Recently, the EC change the polling date from the 25th of June to the 18th of June 2022. That was the first change to the tentative dates. Polling is now confirmed for the 9th of July 2022.

The EC cannot let the circumstance dictates to it what it must do.

This is the national general elections.

Dates must be set, confirmed and finalised and followed through.

The EC must know that the National General Elections  are above any govt. It's a mandatory requirement govt past and present submit to.

It is now too late to make any other changes.

Election tentative dates are important

In an NCB news report the 

'Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai says writs for the 2022 national election will not be issued next Thursday.'

He also said that

'the date of April 28th for the issue of writs is only part of the tentative election program. The PNG Electoral Commission has not released any official dates as yet.'

The official tentative dates have no problems with them. These dates must be confirmed and locked in.

The current prime minister gave his backing for the election dates as reported by The National.

Other administrative matters should not interfere with election dates. Period.

PNG 2022 election unlike others in the past

The PNG 2022 election will be the most closely watched election unlike others in the past.

The international (Australia and Pacific) media outlets will be watching and reporting. They can make their own stories, but what matters the most is a successful election.

That means that the electoral commission must be decisive, and be confident in the date it set earlier. There is no need to change it.

There is no room to move things around now.

Why is mobile phone & internet important for 2022 PNG election?

News and information travel fast on the internet. But importantly, social media in PNG will be lit with election-related events.

In fact, the internet coverage in PNG is much better than it was 6 years ago. Also, the recent inception of Vodafone PNG is an added bonus, it cannot come at the right time. 

It is going to be an interesting election.