Bougainville commemorated the 24th Anniversary of the Bougainville Peace Agreement (BPA) on 30 August 2025. The BPA is a historic accord signed between the people of Bougainville and the Papua New Guinea government 2001. Photo: Autonomous Bougainville Government
Campaigning in Bougainville for Thursday's election must end at midnight on Tuesday local time.
The autonomous Papua New Guinea region is holding elections for its parliament.
People will choose a president from seven candidates and 45 MPs from nearly 400 candidates, including 34 women.
The Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commission said Wednesday will be a day of non-political activity ahead of the voting starting at 8am on Thursday.
It is a one-day poll using 544 polling stations spread across the region, involving more than 3,000 staff.
The office said there are no provisions for extensions beyond the 4pm close of the polling stations, though this could change if voters are hampered by a weather event or something similar.
There is a modest observer involvement of the election with a small group from the International Founndation for Electoral Systems.
In addition there are monitoring groups from within Bougainville and from the mainland.
According to the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, more than 238,000 registered voters will cast their ballots to elect the president, three women's representatives, three representatives of former combatants, and 38 single-member constituencies, who together will form the Bougainville House of Representatives.
Fourteen women are standing in the three seats reserved for women, while 20 are contesting open electorates.
