Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has confirmed that the Government would implement major electoral reforms in time for the 2027 National General Elections, including introducing biometric and ID-based voting, appointing a new electoral commissioner, and doing a full clean-up of the national Common Roll.
Responding to questions in Parliament, the Prime Minister said Government is determined to deliver a fair, transparent, and credible election process — one that guarantees “one person, one vote, one ballot paper.”
“Our people deserve to exercise their constitutional right to vote freely, without undue influence or a defective process. We are committed to strengthening the electoral system so that the 2027 elections reflect the true will of the people,” the Prime Minister said.
He announced that government would allocate substantial funding in the 2026 National Budget to support early preparations by the Electoral Commission. This proactive approach aims to avoid the last-minute pressures that have affected past elections.
“In 2026, we will use the national census data to clean up the Common Roll to ensure every eligible citizen is properly registered. Our goal is to have a reliable biometric or ID-based voting system in place by 2027,” he stated.
Prime Minister Marape also confirmed that a new electoral commissioner would be appointed soon, as the current commissioner has reached the man- datory retirement age. The Electoral Commission Appointments Committee, which includes the Opposition Leader, is currently managing this transition process.
The Prime Minister said these electoral reforms come at a significant moment in the nation’s history, as Papua New Guinea has just turned 50 years old since gaining Independence in 1975.
“As our nation celebrates its 50th anniversary, this is our gift to Papua New Guinea’s democracy — a better, cleaner, and more transparent voting system for 2027 and beyond,” he said.
He urged all Members of Parliament and citizens to actively participate in the upcoming Common Roll update to ensure their names are properly listed.
“Every citizen has a responsibility to make sure they are enrolled to vote. When the Common Roll update begins, make sure your name is on it. This is your democratic right,” the Prime Minister emphasized.
The Marape Government will use 2026 as the key preparation year, focusing on integrating data between the National Statistics Office and the Electoral Commission, improving logistics for remote polling areas, and tightening election integrity measures.
Prime Minister Marape concluded by reaffirming his administration’s commitment to delivering a fair and credible election:
“We will clean up the process once and for all. With biometric or ID-based voting, we will deliver an election that our people can trust and be proud of.”