| Legal Framework |
|---|
| Electoral Law | 1 January 1997 Last updated: 05.10.2006 |
| Mode of designation | directly elected 111 |
| Constituencies | 109 single-member constituencies (20 provincial and 89 local). |
| Voting system | Majority: Limited preferential voting system (only the first three preferences marked by a voter are counted). Each voter makes a choice of three candidates by indicating his/her preferences referred to as 1, 2 and 3 on the ballot paper ("1" being the voter's most preferred candidate). The vote is first attributed to the candidate with the number "1", so that should that candidate win an absolute majority (50 per cent of the valid votes plus one of the vote remaining), he or she is declared elected. If no candidate wins an absolute majority, the vote distribution continues after eliminating the candidate with the lowest tally. The second-choice or third-choice candidates are then distributed as marked to remaining candidates. This process continues until one candidate receives 50 per cent plus one of the votes remaining, and is declared elected. Vacancies arising between general elections are filled through by-elections. Voting is not compulsory. |
| Voter requirements | - age: 18 years - Papua New Guinean citizenship - residence within constituency for more than six months - disqualifications: allegiance to a foreign State, insanity |
| Candidates |
|---|
| Eligibility | - qualified electors - age: 25 years - Papua New Guinean citizenship - birth or residence (for the immediately preceding two years or for a period of five years at any time) in the constituency - ineligibility: death sentence, imprisonment for a period exceeding nine months, conviction of electoral offence in the preceding three years, dismissal from office under the Leadership Code in the preceding three years |
| Incompatibilities | - Governor-General |
| Candidacy requirements | - deposit of 1,000 kina, reimbursed if the candidate polls at least 1/3 of the votes obtained by the winning candidate of the constituency concerned |