The Dei Open Seat By- Election is progressing to the counting phase after the successful completion of polling just over the weekend in the Western Highlands province.

The acting Electoral Commissioner Margart Vagi, upon receiving update from the Provincial Election Manager and the Retuning Officer for the Dei Open By- Election, said the last polling team wrapped up at the Kimininga Police barracks oval in Mt Hagen city on Saturday 24th January.

It now brings to total 58 of 59 ballot boxes locked up in the Electoral Commission container at Kimininga Oval. One box was hijacked and declared void.

She said the ground teams are now preparing for counting, which the Returning Officer will advise of.

“I would like to thank the voters of Dei, the Provincial Elections Advisory Committee, Security personnel, and the polling officials for their tireless efforts in completing polling,” she said.

There are more than 90, 000 registered eligible voters in Dei Open.

Polling for two wards of Mun and Palgi in the Muglamp Local Level Government (LLG) were disrupted after fighting erupted last week. This saw candidates demand for a neutral counting ground, agreeing for this to be the Kiminga Police Barracks oval where polling was peacefully completed on Friday and Saturday.

Both Dei Open and the New Ireland Provisional Seat are expected to go to counting this week.