010115LAW CLARIFIES ISSUES By Aloysius Laukai There is strong support for the adoption of measures to allow for voting by post in the coming 2015 ABG General Elections. And as a result, the 2013 amending Act inserted new sections providing for a complex process of postal voting for electors who will be prevented from voting by illness or physical disability, or who will be outside Bougainville at the time of the election. The Acting Electoral Commissioner is of the view that application of these provisions in their present form will significantly delay the counting of votes, making it unlikely that the writs will be able to be returned within the 2 weeks allowed under the law. It is unfortunate, but it will not be possible to implement postal voting measures in time for the 2015 election. The Electoral Commissioner will review the capacity to adopt postal voting for future elections, which will be able to be provided for by regulations. Before last year’s amendment, the Elections Act required the polling period to commence no earlier than 5 weeks after the issue of the writ, and no later than 8 weeks after the issue of the writ. After the amendment, the polling period must now commence sometime between 3 and 7 days after the issue of the writ. This is clearly a drafting error, as it overlaps with the nomination period for candidates. And according to the Acting Electoral Commissioner If retained in its present form, there will be no time for campaigning, and no time for the printing of ballot papers. The Acting Electoral Commissioner recommends that the polling period commence sometime between 6 and 8 weeks after the issue of the writ, to allow adequate time for all preparations for the poll to be made. The amendments of the Bougainville Elections will be passed in the March session of the ABG House. Ends
Posted on: Thu, 01 Jan 2015 12:44:52 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015