PNG Electoral Commission attend JICA Seminar in Japan

Ms. Margaret VAGI, the director for Operations at PNG Electoral Commission attended the 3 weeks long JICA Seminar on “Electoral Management in Democratic Countries,” in Japan, hosted by JICA Tokyo International Center and supported by The Institute of Japanese Election System and Administration. This is the 3^rd year JICA provided this seminar to PNG Electoral Commission.

Electoral Representatives from other countries including Cambodia, Ethiopia, Guinea, Malawi, Maldives, Nepal, Philippines and Timor-Leste also joined the training. The seminar included the following topics;

1. Electoral System, Law and administration in Japan
2. Electoral Dispute System. Overview of Election Violations in Japan and countermeasures
3. Gender Equality in Elections
4. Resident Registration and Voters Lists Management/ Electoral Roll management
5. Voting Procedures, mechanism and Station Work in Japan Diverse Voting Systems in Japan and Their Mechanisms
6. Counting of Votes & Mock Voting
7. Devices/Machines used for Voting

The participants also had the opportunity to witness The Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Election at Setagaya City, Japan. Ms. Vagi stated that elections in Japan are conducted fair and free from violence. The votes are counted and results revealed within the same day. Ms. Vagi plans to hold a conference with her organization to introduce new concepts/strategies that might be applicable to conducting elections in PNG.

JICA will continue to provide this training to the staff of PNG Electoral Commission. JICA will also support to the noble organization with Technical Cooperation “Electoral Commission Capacity Development (Voter and Civic Education).”