News
Polls Commission ready for Parliamentary polls 2 months after its proclamation
The Elections Commission (EC) is prepared to hold Parliamentary elections within 2 months after a related proclamation by the President, EC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya told the Sunday Times yesterday. He said the EC could make the arrangements including the appointment of officials within that period.
Following a proclamation of Parliamentary elections, nominations could be called after 7 days, after which elections could be held between 5 and 8 weeks later. According to the Parliamentary Elections Act of 1980, the President is empowered to announce the date of nominations, the date of elections and the date for summoning of Parliament.
Mr Deshapriya, however, said that, if Provincial Council (PC) Elections are held before that, it would take a longer period, as Parliament needs to pass certain technical amendments.
He said that, if the PC elections were to be held under the new system, it would take over 3 months. The EC Chairman, this week, met with the Assistant Commissioners of Elections when they were briefed on the Electoral Register (ER) to be used at the next elections. At the end of the meeting he told officials to be prepared to conduct any elections at short notice.
According to the latest ER, 15.9 million persons are eligible to vote, which would be an increase of 230,000 voters compared with last year’s ER.