Bougainville Electoral Commissioner, Desmond Tsianai, today formally returned 45 writs comprising the Presidency, 38 single-member constituencies and the six reserved regional seats for women and Former Combatants.

Tsianai formally handed the election writs to the outgoing Speaker, Simon Pentanu, officially acknowledging the completion of the electoral process.

“In accordance with Sections 145 of the Bougainville Elections Act, and guided by the constitutional mandate vested in the Office I hold, I am proud to return these writs to you, Mr. Speaker, and to this Honorable House,” he said.

He reiterated the democratic spirit of the people of Bougainville as a testament to their unity and resilience.

“To every voter who stood in line with patience, dignity, and determination, we say thank you. You have proven once again that the heart of Bougainville beats strong with a belief in peaceful democratic choice and representation,” Tsianai said.

Commissioner Tsianai highlighted that the election was more than an administrative exercise, emphasizing the scale and achievements of this electoral exercise.

“We recorded a total of 408 candidates, including a growing and welcome number of women candidates. 21 women contested constituency seats, up from 14 in 2020. The Presidential race featured 7 candidates, reflecting a vibrant and competitive democratic environment.”

“The Final Electoral Roll included 238,625 registered voters which is the most inclusive and comprehensive roll in our history. 51% of enrolled were men, and 49% women. Notably, 14.3% of enrolled voters were aged 18 to 24 which is a significant increase from 8.9% in 2020, showing that our youth are claiming their place in shaping Bougainville’s future,” Commissioner Tsianai explained.

He acknowledged that there were challenges faced as is expected with large scale operations, however his team was able to respond swiftly within the law and in the best interest of the people.

“Our systems of verification, oversight, and accountability were tested and they held firm,” he said, noting that they will also begin their post-election review, listening to lessons from this cycle to improve the next.