News
Votes for late presidential candidate invalid
View(s):Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake told FactSeeker that any votes cast for late presidential candidate Mohammed Ilyas would be considered invalid.
With the vacancy created by the demise of Mr Ilyas on August 22, FactSeeker observed questions regarding the process for filling his vacancy.
Mr Ratnayake said the Election Commission had informed the representatives of Mr Ilyas that a replacement candidate should be nominated by September 5.
The requirement for an individual to stand as an independent presidential candidate is that they are or have been an elected member of the legislature.
The daughter of the late candidate Mohammed Ilyas Jemeena told FactSeeker that she desired to propose her own candidacy for the vacant position. However, her request was disregarded as the EC had highlighted the requirement of being a former or current MP. As it was not feasible to find a replacement who met these criteria, the position remains vacant.
With the ballot papers already printed, the name of Mohammed Ilyas will remain on them. “Any votes cast for him would be considered invalid,” Mr Ratnayake said.
Mr Ilyas, who served as an MP for the Jaffna District in 1990, contested the presidential elections as an independent candidate in 2010, 2015, and 2019.
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