The Secretary General of the Shefa Provincial Government Council, Mr. Lionel Kaluat, has issued an important update for voters across Shefa Province, particularly in areas from Epi to Efate, as preparations for the upcoming election on 16th January 2025 are underway. As the Electoral Office-appointed Returning Officer for Shefa Province, Mr. Kaluat emphasized the need for all polling stations to be fully prepared. He has called on Area Administrators to ensure that polling booths across Shefa Province are ready for voters on election day.

Mr. Kaluat reminded voters that only individuals with valid ID cards and whose names appear on the electoral roll will be allowed to vote. He stressed that previous practices where unregistered voters were permitted to vote using spreadsheets will not be tolerated. This year, strict measures are in place to ensure fairness and adherence to electoral laws.

Campaigning is set to end on 13th January 2025, and Mr. Kaluat has urged political parties to conduct their campaigns responsibly. He reminded parties not to misuse their camps to manipulate or unduly influence voters, as such practices are illegal. He also warned against the withholding of voters’ ID cards, which is against the law. Officers, along with Area Administrators, will be monitoring this closely and ensuring any withheld ID cards are returned to voters before election day.