Early LG polls after incorporating youth list into electoral register : Punchihewa

• Irrespective of electoral reforms being in place or not, the EC is mandated to hold LG polls before March 2023
• It would be ideal if the electoral reforms were incorporated in the local authorities’ election ordinance before the forthcoming polls but it cannot be a blockade for the holding of  LG polls on time

By Sandun A Jayasekera

The Election Commission (EC) will not delay conducting Local Government polls on the pretext of introducing electoral reforms and expects to announce the dates for the LG polls in November after incorporating the ‘Youth List’ into the 2022 electoral register, chairman, S.G.Punchihewa said.  

The EC normally includes new applications of youth who complete 18 years of age by February every year in a supplementary list to the annual electoral register. We expect to finalize the common electoral register of 2022 with the new voter list by October 31st.Then after we will prepare another list of new applicants who complete 18 years of age from February to September. The final 2022 electoral register including this list will be ready by mid-November. Therefore, the EC will be in a position to announce the dates for the election for LG bodies in late November,”Punchihewa told Daily Mirror.   

Responding to Daily Mirror on attempts by certain political parties’ move to introduce electoral reforms proposed by the parliamentary select committee headed by Dinesh Gunawardana probably as a delaying tactic, Punchihewa said it was better if the electoral reforms were incorporated in the local authorities’ election ordinance before the forthcoming polls but it cannot be a blockade to hold LG polls on time.  

“Whether electoral reforms are in place or not, the EC is mandated to hold LG polls before March 2023. But the EC is empowered to declare LG polls any time after September 20th under the law. Therefore, the Election Commission has no intention what so ever to delay the holding of LG polls even by a day” Mr. Punchihewa emphasized.  

The EC was ready to hold forthcoming LG polls under the election regulations and legal guidance used when election was held for local government bodies in 2018 if electoral reforms were not passed in Parliament on time, he added.