2017 Papua New Guinean general election

Important dates in the election are listed below.[6][7]

The Return of Writs was postponed to 29 July due to few of the 111 seats being declared. The Writs were presented to Governor General Sir Robert Dadae on 29 July by Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato, with only 80 seats declared.[8]

The Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission reported in preliminary figures that 3332 candidates have nominated to contest the election, 165 candidates of whom are women.[9]

Province	Region	Male Candidates	Female Candidates	Total
Chimbu	Highlands Region	309	11	320
Eastern Highlands	Highlands Region	384	12	396
Enga	Highlands Region	154	8	162
Hela	Highlands Region	89	3	92
Jiwaka	Highlands Region	133	5	138
Southern Highlands	Highlands Region	116	1	117
Western Highlands	Highlands Region	95	3	98
A/R Bougainville	NGI Region	68	5	73
East New Britain	NGI Region	79	2	81
Manus	NGI Region	52	8	60
New Ireland	NGI Region	42	4	46
West New Britain	NGI Region	68	0	68
East Sepik	Momase Region	163	11	174
Madang	Momase Region	253	14	267
Morobe	Momase Region	314	13	327
West Sepik	Momase Region	92	5	97
Central	Papua Region	133	14	147
Gulf	Papua Region	133	12	145
Milne Bay	Papua Region	96	5	101
National Capital District	Papua Region	128	13	141
Northern	Papua Region	95	8	103
Western	Papua Region	171	8	179
Total		3167	165	3332

The Bank of Papua New Guinea is concerned that 160 Million Kina of old currency which was stolen has the potential to influence the election.[12] There are concerns in the Menyama District of Morobe Province that poor weather conditions affecting road transport could cause issues with the transportation of polling materials closer towards the election.[13]

Significant issues with voting had arisen by late June. On 27 June, the day voting was due to begin in the National Capital District, voting in all three electorates there was delayed until 30 June after polling officials went on strike due to unpaid allowances. At least sixteen electoral officials were arrested, including NCD election manager Terrence Hetinu, who was found with US$57,000 in cash stored in his car, while NCD assistant returning officer Roselyn Tobogani was arrested after officials were found smuggling ballot papers out of the provincial election office.[14][15][16]

Voting in Chimbu Province, Hela Province and Western Highlands Province failed to begin on schedule on 26 June due to issues with the common roll and disputes over numbers of ballot papers, while voting in Eastern Highlands Province only commenced on a limited basis amidst reports that "thousands of students" had been left off the electoral roll.[14][15]

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato obtained a court order against blogger Martyn Namorong, restricting him from sharing defamatory statements against the commissioner. This came after Gamato received criticism which compared him and his surname to a tomato.[17]