2020 Bougainvillean general election

A presidential and parliamentary election was held in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville between 12 August and 1 September 2020.[1] 440 candidates were contesting the 40 seats in the Bougainville House of Representatives, including 25 competing to be President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.[2] The new government will negotiate the outcome of the 2019 Bougainvillean independence referendum, which saw 98.3% of voters supporting independence from Papua New Guinea.

2020 Bougainvillean presidential election

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Candidate Ishmael Toroama Simon Dumarinu
Party Bougainville People's Alliance Party Independent
Instant-runoff final vote 51,317 33,088
First-preference vote 27,448 20,691

President before election

John Momis
New Bougainville Party

Elected President

Ishmael Toroama
Bougainville People's Alliance Party

Originally scheduled to be held in May,[3] the elections were delayed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic, first until June,[4] and then again until August.[1]

On 21 August 2020 the Electoral Commissioner announced that polling had almost been completed, one week ahead of schedule.[5] On 24 August a police officer was suspended for allegedly interfering with the election.[6] Several other officers are under investigation.

Presidential election

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Elections are held under the instant-runoff voting system, with voters classifying exactly three candidates. 25 candidates are contesting the presidency, including former President James Tanis, former soldier Thomas Raivet, MP Fidelis Semoso, lawyer Paul Nerau, businessman Peter Tsiamalili, health care professional Ruby Mirinka, and former MP Magdalene Toroansi.[7]

Incumbent President John Momis attempted to change the constitution to allow him to stand for a third term.[8] Following Parliament voting down the amendment he unsuccessfully challenged the decision in the Papua New Guinea Supreme Court.[9]

Results

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Vote counting began on 4 September 2020.[10] Partial results at the beginning of the elimination process on 18 September had former Bougainville Revolutionary Army commander Ishmael Toroama leading, with former PNG MP Father Simon Dumarinu in second place, followed by Thomas Raivet and Fidelis Semoso.[11]

On 14 September the counting period was extended until 24 September due to the number of votes and candidates.[12]

On 23 September Ishmael Toroama was declared the winner after the 23rd elimination, with 51,317 votes. Father Simon Dumarinu came second with 33,088. Toroama's caretaker government was formally sworn in on 25 September.[13] His Cabinet was announced on 2 October 2020.[14]

President

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Candidate First
pref.
Elimination
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Ishmael Toroama 27,448 27,491 27,560 27,652 27,742 28,007 28,337 28,746 29,105 29,535 30,575 31,001 31,611 32,074 33,007 33,642 34,266 35,400 39,081 41,668 43,629 47,145 49,696 51,317
Simon Dumarinu 20,691 20,726 20,761 20,816 20,847 20,979 21,276 21,551 20,381 20,882 21,173 21,431 21,711 22,023 22,474 22,843 23,163 24,341 25,863 28,120 28,972 29,896 32,296 33,088
Thomas Raivet 12,984 13,011 13,041 13,056 13,102 13,153 13,259 13,356 13,433 13,576 13,629 14,032 14,182 14,547 14,779 15,410 16,026 16,120 16,326 17,106 18,016 20,107
Fidelis Semoso 12,286 12,319 12,347 12,385 12,419 12,449 12,602 12,700 12,946 13,071 13,141 13,383 13,509 13,873 14,038 14,167 14,832 14,978 15,507 16,069 17,443
Peter E. Tsiamalili 11,806 11,830 11,854 11,884 11,925 11,994 12,149 12,306 12,388 12,567 12,726 13,067 13,467 13,962 14,324 14,944 15,762 16,123 16,637 17,302 18,444 20,953 23,563
Samuel Kauona 7,965 7,985 7,989 8,002 8,015 8,049 8,183 8,318 8,399 8,499 8,594 8,719 8,827 8,926 9,240 9,370 9,516 9,777
James Tanis 7,633 7,640 7,654 7,664 7,688 7,737 7,924 8,024 8,071 8,209 8,345 8,495 8,680 8,839 9,096 9,359 9,547 10,174 10,507
Joe Lera 6,715 6,730 6,745 6,791 6,806 6,964 7,104 7,276 7,464 7,564 7,882 8,126 8,712 9,036 9,325 9,875 10,259 10,595 11,055 11,924
Wesma N. Piika 4,218 4,224 4,233 4,239 4,252 4,330 4,375 4,467 4,496 4,559 4,660 4,719 4,985 5,057 5,159 5,281 5,354
Paul Nerau 3,796 3,798 3,823 3,836 3,846 3,881 3,912 3,942 3,962 4,153 4,253 4,315 4,443 4,539 4,800
Sione Paasia 3,395 3,423 3,455 3,444 3,466 3,483 3,584 3,645 3,749 3,801 3,837 4,455 4,605 4,817 4,973 5,161
Andrew K. Miriki 3,092 3,107 3,130 3,413 3,178 3,202 3,258 3,450 3,487 3,652 3,990 4,093 4,261 4,419
Kapeatu Puaria 3,045 3,054 3,093 3,105 3,160 3,187 3,230 3,281 3,367 3,458 3,486
Samuel S. Maiha 2,926 2,936 2,978 2,988 3,029 3,190 3,235 3,354 3,402 3,540 3,717 3,789
Rueben Siara 2,755 2,764 2,767 2,789 2,792 2,907 3,024 3,075 3,123 3,148
Patrick Koles 2,665 2,669 2,713 2,719 2,771 2,791 2,852 2,902 3,351 3,617 3,649 3,835 3,907
Robert C. Tulsa 2,560 2,565 2,584 2,597 2,622 2,649 2,690 2,740 2,897
Micheal Poposan 2,248 2,258 2,271 2,272 2,277 2,301 2,342 2,354
Martin R. Miriori 2,096 2,106 2,109 2,141 2,150 2,167
Ruby Mirinka 1,980 1,988 2,012 2,105 2,133 2,192 2,266
Nick F. Penial 1,352 1,363 1,370 1,381 1,391
John B. Bule 573 573 593 600
Magdalene I. Toroansi 532 544 548
Benjamin Muruna 502 506
Bernard S. Tzilu 342
Source: [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [28] [29] [30] [31] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Bougainville allowing for three week election because of Covid-19". RNZ. 17 June 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  2. ^ "Bougainville election underway today". RNZ. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Bougainville Speaker to issue writs for upcoming election". RNZ. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  4. ^ "Electoral process in Bougainville to begin in June". RNZ. 29 April 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  5. ^ "Bougainville voting close to done". RNZ. 21 August 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Bougainville police officer suspended over election allegations". RNZ. 24 August 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  7. ^ "Bougainville Election 2020 News : Polling starts today 12 August with young people seizing the opportunity to help reshape our future". Bougainville News. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Bougainville govt confident of achieving three presidency terms". RNZ. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  9. ^ "Bougainville's Momis loses bid for another tilt at leadership". RNZ. 30 May 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  10. ^ "Bougainvilleans called on to respect rule of law amid vote count". RNZ. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  11. ^ "Elimination begins in race for Bougainville presidency". RNZ. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  12. ^ "Numbers force Bougainville election count extension". RNZ. 14 September 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  13. ^ "Bougainville's Toroama sworn in as President". RNZ. 25 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  14. ^ "Bougainville's Toroama forms a 14 member Cabinet". RNZ. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  15. ^ "PRESIDENTIAL COUNT UPDATE". Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner. 17 September 2020.
  16. ^ "After the 1st elimination". Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner. 18 September 2020.
  17. ^ "PRESIDENTIAL COUNT UPDATE After the 2nd elimination". Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner. 18 September 2020.
  18. ^ "PRESIDENTIAL COUNT UPDATE After the 3rd elimination". Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner. 18 September 2020.
  19. ^ "PRESIDENTIAL COUNT UPDATE After the 4th elimination". Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner. 18 September 2020.
  20. ^ "PRESIDENTIAL COUNT UPDATE After the 5th elimination". Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner. 18 September 2020.
  21. ^ "PRESIDENTIAL COUNT UPDATE After the 6th elimination". Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner. 18 September 2020.
  22. ^ "PRESIDENTIAL COUNT UPDATE After the 7th elimination". Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner. 18 September 2020.
  23. ^ "PRESIDENTIAL COUNT UPDATE AFTER THE 8TH ELIMINATION". Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner. 19 September 2020.
  24. ^ "PRESIDENTIAL COUNT UPDATE AFTER THE 9TH ELIMINATION". Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner. 19 September 2020.
  25. ^ "PRESIDENTIAL COUNT UPDATE AFTER THE 10TH ELIMINATION". Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner. 19 September 2020.
  26. ^ "PRESIDENTIAL COUNT UPDATE AFTER THE 11TH ELIMINATION". Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner. 19 September 2020.
  27. ^ "PRESIDENTIAL COUNT UPDATE AFTER THE 12TH ELIMINATION". Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner. 19 September 2020.
  28. ^ a b "PRESIDENTIAL COUNT UPDATE AFTER THE 13TH ELIMINATION". Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner. 20 September 2020.
  29. ^ "PRESIDENTIAL COUNT UPDATE AFTER THE 15TH ELIMINATION". Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner. 20 September 2020.
  30. ^ "PRESIDENTIAL COUNT UPDATE AFTER THE 16TH ELIMINATION". Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner. 20 September 2020.
  31. ^ a b "PRESIDENTIAL COUNT UPDATE 17th Elimination". Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner. 20 September 2020.
  32. ^ "PRESIDENTIAL COUNT UPDATE 19th Elimination". Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner. 21 September 2020.
  33. ^ "PRESIDENTIAL COUNT UPDATE 20th Elimination". Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner. 21 September 2020.
  34. ^ "PRESIDENTIAL COUNT UPDATE Elimination 21". Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner. 22 September 2020.
  35. ^ "PRESIDENTIAL COUNT UPDATE After the 22nd Elimination". Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner. 22 September 2020.
  36. ^ "PRESIDENTIAL COUNT UPDATE After the 23rd Elimination". Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner. 22 September 2020.
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