The Bougainville Electoral Commissioner has moved to allay fears about irregularities in the region's election, which began last Wednesday.
Photo: Bougainville Govt
George Manu said in the first complaint a returning officer had been spotted moving ballot boxes, but he said says they were empty and the officer needed to move them.
Manu said the returning officer had acted appropriately.
In the second incident a voter, who happened to be a candidate, was given a ballot with the name of another candidate already ticked off.
Manu said he was satisfied this was an isolated case but it was important for people to be suspicious.
"I have no concerns because there was nothing there, but people have a right to be suspicious.
"You know the stakes are very high in this election. There are a lot of very good candidates who are running for this election so the government that is going to be formed after these elections is the government that is going to take Bougainville forward."
Manu said he had hoped to have some international observers for the vote but, to date had to rely on locals to monitor the process.
Bougainville's electoral commissioner George Manu and acting election manager George Kenatsi (February 2020) Photo: Bougainville Electoral Commission
Earlier the caretaker President, John Momis, called on the people to uphold the rule of law and the rules that governed the election.
"Let us all walk this journey together as one people and one voice to decide our leaders for this next government that will lead us to our ultimate political future that is within the confines of democratic values and international best practice standards," he said.
The election is set to finish on 1 September.