Frustrations are mounting in Papua New Guinea where an outdated electoral roll is resulting in voters all over the country being turned away at polling stations.
RNZ Pacific's PNG correspondent Scott Waide described the first two days of the country's three-week-long polling period as "chaotic".
Sporadic violence is being reported in parts of the country coupled with images and videos of unscrupulous voting practices being posted on social media.
The PNG Electoral Commission officially opened the National Election Coordination Centre on Friday July 1, in Port Moresby. Photo: PNG Electoral Commission
Waide is currently in Vanimo near the border between Papua New Guinea and Indonesia's West Papua provinces.
What was most worrying was the electoral roll anomalies were not just isolated incidents, he said.
"It's been chaotic and reports all around the country have shown that the problems that we faced in the last election haven't been resolved. People turned up at the polls and found that their names were not on the electoral rolls.
"It's been very frustrating for these voters. They've questioned the Electoral Commission. The Commission doesn't have a sufficient answers for voters.
"When voters turned up at the polls, they realised either the rolls haven't been updated or they were using electoral rolls from 2012, 2017."
Over 3600 candidates are running for Papua New Guinea's 118 member parliament.
PM denies illegal army is operating in Hela
Prime Minister James Marape has denied claims that there is an illegal army operating in Hela Province as widely speculated over social media.
NBC reports Marape saying police are at work in the province, ensuring safety and security during the election period.
He further commended the good work done so far by disciplined forces and hoped counting was staged peacefully in the province.
Voters urged not to 'sell their votes'
Voters in Simbu Province are being urged not to sell their votes cheaply.
The province will head to the polls on Friday 15 July.
Deputy Commander for Highlands East Chief Superintendent Joseph Tondop told the people not to think about today only and sell their votes, but to think about the future of their children.
Voters needed to screen leaders properly and choose the best among the many candidates - someone who could bring services back to the community, Tondop said.
Tondop reassured the people of Simbu that security forces were ready to make sure this election was truly free, fair, safe and transparent.
He said this election was not only the business of the three disciplinary forces and the provincial government but for everyone.
Top cop's plea to voters and security forces
The Police Commissioner, David Manning, said while it was the mission of the security forces to ensure a free and fair election, the responsibility also fell on every PNG citizen.
Manning - who observed the opening of voting in Tari in Hela Province on Monday - said the commitment of the security forces was evident from the initial ground work done to secure various communities for the polling.
He said the disciplined forces "have a duty to protect our constitution, defend our democratic way of life, serve our country and our people".
He called on his charges to remain focused and maintain their operational integrity.
The security forces cannot allow themselves to be coerced, bribed, forced or threatened to act in the manner that brings the whole security operation into disrepute, Manning said.
