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Urgent reform of electoral laws needed: Observers
View(s):International and local election observers concluded their work this week, noting that the “outdated” electoral law of the country was in need of immediate reform. While monitors called for the change of laws regarding campaigning procedures and expenditure, they pointed out that there should be provisions for voters to vote even if they didn’t call over at a booth. They also added that close relatives should be allowed to campaign for a candidate.
The Commonwealth Observor Group at a post-election media briefing
Meanwhile the monitors expressed their satisfaction over the “peaceful” atmosphere on polling day, attributing this to the work of the Elections Commissioner and the police. Both foreign and local monitors were disturbed about the lack of regulation in candidates’ campaign expenditure which carried the risk of glaring inequity in public exposure.
Other key findings presented by the monitors related to the establishment of an independent elections commission and the imposition of restrictive provisions on campaign methods.Nearly 180 international observers from groups such as the Commonwealth Observer Group and the European Union Election Observation Mission were deployed. Many had arrived in the country prior to the polls, they had the opportunity to witness campaigning activity. Nearly 31,000 local monitors were also engaged in the elections.
At a post-election media briefing, Dr. George Abela, chairperson of the Commonwealth Observer Group, noted that the election environment had been “remarkably calmer and more peaceful than those witnessed in the recent past”.Dr. Abela observed that the campaign environment had been low-key with a limited amount of campaign material on display. He attributed this to the strict enforcement of the election laws.
The Commonwealth group expressed concern over incidents of violence, the misuse of state resources, attacks on campaign offices, assaults and the three election-related deaths. Commenting on the counting and the results, Dr. Abela added the group was “impressed with the training of polling officials and the early deployment of polling staff”.
He also pointed out that vote and preference counting was conducted transparently, during which the counting officials had worked diligently. “The presence of polling agents and citizen observers at this crucial stage of the electoral process further enhanced the transparency of the count,” he said.
The EU observers, headed by Cristian Preda, a member of the European Parliament, declared that the elections were “genuine, well administered and peaceful overall”. They noted that people had come out to vote in high numbers, confirming their support for continued democratic reform. Both the EU and Commonwealth observer groups emphasised the need for a change in electoral law.
“One of the key things that we noticed was that campaign financing is not regulated. We observed some candidates use the electronic and print media frequently for the campaigning. We were also aware that these advertisements are quite expensive,” Dr. Abela said, adding that this might have put some candidates at a disadvantage.The Commonwealth Observer Group also made note that less than 10 per cent of the nominated candidates at this election were women. They urged that serious consideration must be given to “affirmative legal measures to ensure adequate participation and representation of women in politics at the national level”.
Meanwhile local watchdogs Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) and the People’s Action for Free And Fair Elections (PAFFREL) both confirmed that no serious incidents of electoral law violations or election-related violence had been reported on election day.
PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi said changes were needed to the electoral law.He emphasised that candidates’ campaign expenditure required regulation. Provisions needed to be made for voters with disabilities and those who were unable to make the journey to a polling centre for various valid reasons.
Mr. Hettiarachchi also said the deposit required of candidates by the Elections Department should be increased.
“This would ensure democracy and also prevent the need for lengthy ballot papers.” The monitors commended the Elections Commissioner and the police for the peaceful polls. The police carried out over 22 raids, apprehending nearly 35 persons on election day. Nine vehicles were confiscated and those who had tried to carry out vehicle parades had been given severe warnings.
