View on Electoral Card collection

Dear Editor,

I wish to register my observation for the Electoral Office to look at as to whether it is in line with the Act. This is where NUP local political activists are reported to go from house to house to collect Electoral Cards from people and promise to give them “something” to thank them for their support after the 2012 general polls. Is this one kind of promise to bribe a person, to bypass the valid court ruling against giving gifts to people prior to the election? Is such a promise legal in the face of the Electoral Act? What I am talking about reported to be happening in our rural villages in North East and North Ambae and those whose cards have been collected all must cast their votes at the polling station at Lolopuepue and nowhere else. I am writing on behalf of a growing number of us villagers who are not sure about the latest political tactic as to whether it is a niche approach we have missed out on or it is not supposed to be practiced now that we have almost reached 32 years of Freedom. Over to you Electoral Office to explain.

Manaro Economist
North Ambae