A Bold Vision for PNG’s Digital Democracy - Day 1

Port Moresby, 13 October 2025—

Papua New Guinea has taken its first major step towards modernizing its electoral system. Opening the “Transforming Elections through Biometric & Technology” workshop at the Hilton Hotel, Minister of Administrative Services Hon. Richard Masere outlined a sweeping reform agenda aimed at restoring public confidence in elections ahead of the 2027 National General Elections.

Four pillars of reform.  Masere reminded participants that the reform journey began in January 2024, when Prime Minister James Marape directed him to create a single source of population data and align the electoral roll to it. Since then the Ministry has pursued four priorities: completing a national census, strengthening the NID system so that every adult is registered, building a credible electronic electoral roll, and transitioning from paper ballots to biometric and electronic voting.

Data integrity at the core.  The Minister emphasised that accurate population data is the foundation of fair elections. The 2024 census, now under way, aims to resolve conflicting population estimates that have persisted since the last count 13 years ago. Meanwhile, more than 3.8 million citizens have been registered through the merged Civil & Identity Registry and NID, but a shortfall of about 3.1 million adults remains. “These citizens must be registered and issued with NID cards at the earliest,” Masere said, noting that an electronic roll cannot be credible without universal registration.

Why technology matters.  Citing lessons from India and the Philippines—nations that have run electronic elections for decades—Masere said biometric and electronic systems can eliminate impersonation, speed up voting and counting, and provide audit trails. Biometric verification ensures “one person, one vote” by using fingerprints or facial recognition, while electronic voting machines detect invalid ballots and tally results within hours. Such technologies also enhance inclusion by offering user‑friendly interfaces and audio prompts for voters with limited literacy.

Commitment to transparency.  The Minister acknowledged past irregularities. The 2011 census showed unexplained population spikes—possibly influenced by the 2012 election—underscoring the need for electronic data collection to safeguard credibility. Masere thanked the Special Parliamentary Committee on the 2022 General Elections for its 70 recommendations and confirmed that the Ministry’s weekly working group meetings continue to drive reforms.

Looking ahead.  Over the next three days the workshop will feature local and international speakers, legal experts and technology vendors who will explore best practices and demonstrate biometric and electronic voting solutions. “Technology is not the future; it is the present,” Masere concluded. He urged all stakeholders to embrace innovation to protect every vote, empower every citizen and ensure that the 2027 election truly reflects the will of the people.