Elections in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea: 2020 General Elections

Bougainvilleans will go to the polls starting on Wednesday, August 12, to vote for the 39 members of the House of Representatives and a president. These will be the first elections held since the 2019 Bougainville referendum, in which 98 percent of voters selected independence from Papua New Guinea (PNG). Bougainville’s new president and representatives and their counterparts in the PNG government will negotiate the ultimate outcome of the referendum process.

Although there have not been any confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Bougainville, a state of emergency has been declared and a safety guidelines have been established for the elections. Additionally, despite its resource limitations, the election management body has procured personal protective equipment for polling and counting staff. 

To help you understand this important electoral process, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) provides Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Elections in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea: 2020 General Elections. IFES FAQs include:

• What is the election management body? What are its powers?
• Who is eligible to run as a candidate?
• What is the level of women's representation?
• When and how will final results be released?

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Learn more about IFES’ programs in Papua New Guinea and follow @IFESAsiaPacific on Twitter.

Additionally, follow IFES' COVID-19 Survival Guide for Democracies and #COVIDxDemocracy for new analysis and innovative solutions during this time of uncertainty. 

Published on July 30, 2020.