PSC calls for mixed electoral system

The Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reforms has recommended amendments to election laws for the introduction of a mixed electoral system envisaging the election of members by the first-past-the-post and proportional system of representation.

Whilst recommending the mixed electoral system as being the most suitable, the Select Committee also considered the modalities and other details involved in electing members to parliament, provincial councils, and local bodies under such a system.

The Committee was of the opinion that a final proposal should ensure the establishment of a stable government and a strong opposition, equitable representation of minority parties and communities, closer nexus between voters and their elected representatives and democratic representation of the people’s mandate.

It said the proposed electoral system would eliminate or minimize violence, curtail undue expenditure, prevent misappropriation of State resources and easy to understand and relatively easy to administer.

The Committee in its report also advised that the preferential voting system be abolished.

Among some of the key recommendations by the Select Committee was the reintroduction of the Ward system for local government elections, subject to the re-demarcation of electoral boundaries by a fresh Delimitation Commission.

It proposed that the present boundaries of local bodies be re-demarcated to form an electoral unit, which would be territorially and demographically smaller than the present unit, on the basis of increasing the participation of the community and ensuring a democratic representation of minorities and communities.

The Committee recommended that necessary steps be taken for the constitution of a Delimitation Commission to implement the proposed system for election to Parliament and local bodies.

The need for a permanent Delimitation Commission for Parliamentary and local government elections was viewed as a vital factor.
Introduction of an electronic voting system on a priority basis also drew the attention of the Select Committee.

According to its report the Elections Commissioner had proposed to the Committee the urgent need for the introduction of an electronic voting system leading to efficient counting with fewer delays in releasing election results which would reduce the heavy expenditure incurred by the Department in using manpower for election duty.

Another key recommendation in the report was amendments to the election law relating to recognition of political parties. At present political parties gain recognition on satisfying certain legal criteria.

The Select Committee recommended amendments to election laws to give recognition to political parties on the basis of specific criteria that pertain to overall concept of voter acceptance.

It also proposed that the 225 seats in Parliament be reallocated with 150 MPs elected from 150 polling divisions under the first-past-the-post system, 72 MPs elected on District PR basis and three seats for unrepresented minor parties on a national proportional representative basis. Following the completion of the interim report the Select Committee met members of political parties represented in Parliament and discussed the draft report to which the parties agreed on principle.

However as several political parties had asked for time to further study the report and submit their submissions on key factors pertaining to the proposed changes in the electoral system the Select Committee gave political parties time until the end of this month to submit their observations on the draft proposals.

The Committee is to sit on November 7 with the new imputs and it is hoped a detailed report containing its recommendations would be presented to Parliament sometime in November.