Papua New Guinea's electoral commissioner says 18 ballot boxes held back by the Tinputz people of Bougainville have been released.
The boxes in Timputz were held by electoral officials angry that they had not yet been paid by the electoral commission.
The commissioner, Patilias Gamato, said another 24 boxes are being held in Buin by people angry that outstanding fees owed to them from the 2015 Bougainville election have not been paid.
Mr Gamato told the Post Courier that the Bougainville electoral commissioner, George Manuhu, would visit Buin to negotiate the release of the boxes.