How is the national electoral register created?

Organic Law on National and Local-level Government Elections enacted 1997, last amended 2006

19. RETURNING OFFICERS.

(1) The Electoral Commission shall, by notice in the National Gazette, appoint a Returning Officer for each electorate, who shall be charged with the duty of giving effect to this Law within or for his electorate, subject to any directions of the Electoral Commission.

 (3) A Returning Officer may, following consultations with the Electoral Commission, seek the assistance of such persons, both individuals and group of individuals including a committee, to plan for the preparation or updating of Rolls and the conduct of elections provided that the functions performed, or the powers exercised, by a Returning Officer under or in accordance with this Law remain the functions and powers of the Electoral Commission. 

IFES: Elections in Papua New Guinea: 2017 National Elections

“The 2017 electoral roll is the result of an extensive process of updating and cleansing the voter registry following the 2012 national election and 2013 local-level government (LLG) election. The latest lists are based on the 2012 national election and 2013 LLG election voter rolls. This voter roll was then analyzed by the Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission (PNGEC) to identify and eliminate duplicates, underage voters, “ghost voters” and other anomalies. The update was completed in March 2016 and this list became the basis for the 2017 preliminary electoral roll. From late February to April 20, 2017, the PNGEC displayed the preliminary roll in 22 provinces on a rolling basis to address corrections and cases of misplaced voters or wards.”