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2014 voter list expedited for early poll
The 2014 electoral register is being prepared earlier than scheduled, Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said yesterday amid report that an early presidential election is likely to be held in January next year. He said the objective was to provide an opportunity for first timers in the 18-19 age group to vote in an early election.
“In the last 2010 Presidential and Parliamentary elections, we used the 2008 register. At that time the 2009 register was being prepared. Many youths who were in the age group of 18 and 19 did not have the chance to vote. We are making sure that this time these first time voters are able to vote,” he said.
Mr. Deshapriya said assistant election commissioners had been instructed to finalise the voters list by next Tuesday and the final list would be ready by October 31. “The register is almost ready,” he said.
“If there is an election called after October 31, this voters list will be used. If the president calls for an election tomorrow, then we have to use the 2013 voters list,” he said. The electoral register is usually compiled by the end of the year and available for any objections by January in the following year.
Mr. Deshapriya said there were 70,889 complaints on voters’ names being not included in the 2014 list.
He said of them 46,000 names were included in the register after the Grama Niladhari certified their names and the rest were told to appear before an inquiry to prove their identity and the residence. He said there were 807 objection complaints where persons had objected to the inclusion of another person’s name.
Meanwhile, the polls chief said international monitors would be allowed for any early national election.He said that in the past general and presidential elections they had allowed foreign observers and therefore it would be possible to expect the same in future too.
Meanwhile, a 15-member committee consisting of representatives of political parties is holding talks with the commissioner to study how to effectively implement election laws to ensure a free and fair election.