Papua New Guinea Election Results: Trends and Patterns 1972-2012

Abstract

This paper draws on the new Papua New Guinea Election Results Database to describe trends in key electoral features in Papua New Guinea. It provides contextual background and electoral history. It discusses trends in candidate numbers and winning candidate vote shares. It looks at incumbent turnover and how long the typical MP stays in parliament. It discusses the performance of women candidates and it looks at the impact of limited preferential voting. Where appropriate, the paper looks both at trends over time and differences across the different regions of Papua New Guinea.

Keywords: Papua New Guinea, elections, electoral trends, Pacific, politics, voting systems

JEL Classification: D72