Bougainville Referendum Commission clarifies its stance on criteria to enrol voters

BY PATRICK MAKIS

The Bougainville Referendum Commission says the eligibility criteria for enrollment on the referendum roll is stipulated under several different elements of legal framework and it does not have the discretion to change the criteria.

In a Press Statement, BRC Chief Referendum Officer, Mauricio Claudio said the BRC was aware of public discussions regarding the criteria for enrolment of voters and thus it was coming out to clear the air on the issue.

“The criteria for enrollment is based on several different elements of the legal framework. As the BRC only came into existence in late 2018, the BRC was not involved in the drawing up of the framework.

• “For those enrolling in Bougainville, the criteria are drawn from:
•          Section 315 of the Bougainville Peace Agreement 2001
•         Schedule 1, section 23 of the Organic Law on Peace-building in Bougainville – Autonomous Bougainville Government and Bougainville Referendum 2002
•          Section 7(1) of the Bougainville Constitution        Section 52(1) of the Organic Law on National and Local-level Government Elections,”

Mr Claudio explained that according to the Bougainville Peace Agreement “the eligibility to vote in the referendum will be the same as for national elections in Bougainville.”

He added that this section of the peace agreement was operationalised by the organic law and this meant that the same criteria used for enrolling people in the PNG national elections would apply.

“So the criteria for those living in Bougainville are:

·         Must have been living in Bougainville for at last the past six months prior to enrollment

·         Were born on or before 12 October 2001

·         Are a PNG citizen

·         Are entitled to vote in PNG National Elections

“For non-resident Bougainvilleans (Bougainvilleans living outside Bougainville), the eligibility criteria for enrollment has been agreed to be:

·         Must have links to Bougainville by birth, adoption, marriage or clan

·         Were born on or before 12 October 2001

·         Are a PNG citizen

·         Are entitled to vote in PNG National Elections,” he clarified.

The Chief Referendum Officer said “As can be seen, the criteria has been set for some time and the legal framework gives the BRC no discretion-if a person meets the criteria, and applies to be included on the roll, then the BRC must enrol them.”

Mr Claudio explained, however, that all applicants for enrollment would be subject to an objections process which would allow any enrolled voter to lodge an objection if they see anyone included on the roll who does not meet the criteria.