Bougainville's Electoral Commissioner Desmond Tsianai Photo: Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner - OBEC
Bougainville's electoral commissioner says the counting of votes has been generally going smoothly.
Results are starting to come in from the election held earlier this month, after vote counting began on Friday following delays.
Desmond Tsianai told Pacific Waves the writs should be returned to the Speaker of the Bougainville House of Representatives by 22 September.
"In terms of the process and the procedures, we haven't encountered major incidents. The process is clear to the scrutineers, and no major dispute from the scrutineers," he said.
"Normally, when we have dispute from the scrutineers, that sort of puts the counting process on hold while we're trying to address those issues.
"At the moment, we haven't encountered that so far - with of course minor complaints from scrutineers; however generally speaking counting is going smoothly and peacefully."
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Tsianai said about 30 per cent of seats had been declared as of Wednesday.
"The presidential ballot [is] still doing the counting, first preference counting. We haven't entered into the elimination or votes distribution as yet."
Bougainville's electoral commissioner says the counting of votes has been generally going smoothly. Photo: Autonomous Bougainville Government
Seven candidates - all men - are contesting the Bougainville presidency.
"We still have to complete the first preferential counting for the regional seats for women, and éxcombatant for the three regions."
Tsianai said previously there were 33 single-member constituencies, and another five were approved last year. That makes 38 single-member constituencies, plus the three regional seats for women and ex-combatants and the presidential seat, for a total of 45 seats in the parliament.
Results have been coming through on the Autonomous Boiuginville Government's social media.
Member-elects declared include Robin Wilson (Barawa); Martin Avoata (Rotokas); Albert Punghau (Motuna Huyono Tokunutui); Lawrence Namusi (Baba); Melvin Iziras Wilolopa (Lato); Jason Baranangko (Rau); Justin Bonai (Bolave); Lucas Bierepi (Kereaka); Fabian Epota Saleu (Torokina); and Ezekiel Masatt (Tonsu).
