Prez poll anouncement before July 31 – EC Chairman
Any day between September 16 and October 16
17.14 million registered voters in new list
Rs. 10 billion has been already allocated
Election Commission Chairman R. M. A. L. Rathnayake said the date of holding the 2024 Presidential Election and date of receiving nominations by the presidential candidates will be announced before July 31, 2024.
Rathnayake said this during the special media conference that was held by the Election Commission yesterday at the Elections Secretariat office in Rajagiriya to brief the media about the upcoming Presidential election and the duties and responsibilities that need to be carried out by the Election Commission pertaining to the relevant election.
The Election Commission Chairman addressing the media said that according to the Country’s Constitution, the Presidential election will be held between September 17 and October 16, 2024. Once the date of holding the Presidential election is announced, between 16 to 21 days from that date, receiving nominations from the Presidential candidates should take place on the assigned date within a two hour time period, he said.
The 2024 latest voters list will be used for the upcoming Presidential election voting and besides the main voters list, a second voters list of citizens who became 18 years and above by February 1, 2024, that was prepared with the new registrations of voters between February 1 and May 31, 2024 will also be used for voting, Rathnayake said.
Accordingly, the total number of registered voters for the upcoming Presidential election is around 17.14 million and out of this, 76,000 voters are from the second voters list prepared by end May 2024, he said.
Rathnayake said that all necessary arrangements to hold a free and fair election without any hindrances, interference, obstacles, violence and rigging are already being made with relevant authorities including the IGP, the Government Printer, Post Master General and discussions will commence soon with the Finance Ministry officials and other supporting state institutions.
The election expenditure regulatory system will be implemented for the upcoming Presidential election which is a new experience for the Sri Lankan voters, Rathnayake said. He further said that discussions are ongoing with the authorities connected with the Elections Commission to prepare a system to hold a free and fair Presidential election including the Police, Inland Revenue Department, Attorney General’s Department and the Bribery Commission.
The Election Commission Chairman said that Rs.10 billion has been already allocated and received to the Elections Commission with the approval of the Finance Ministry from the Treasury which will be used for the upcoming Presidential election expenditure and further discussions are being held with the Finance Ministry regarding obtaining funds for other election related expenses that may arise.
Rathnayake affirmed that there are no obstacles or hindrances from the Government Printer or the Postal Department to provide their required essential supportive services and that they have assured their absolute support to conduct the Presidential election smoothly by providing their required services in a timely manner.
When it comes to rejection of nominations based on eligibility criteria to submit nominations by presidential candidates, the Election Commission Chairman said that the same set of rules and conditions used for the 2019 Presidential election nomination will be used for the upcoming Presidential election as well and therefore dual citizens can submit nominations this time as well and revisions to the existing nomination eligibility criteria have been already submitted to relevant authorities by the Elections Commission.
Submitting the declaration of assets and liabilities by each Presidential candidate to the Election Commission will be mandatory and will be carried out according to the law with absolute confidentiality, Rathnayake said.
Rathnayake said that the Election Commission has the power, ability and capacity to hold the Presidential Election as well as the General Election any time as and when required. He also said that discussions are being held regarding usage of Artificial Intelligence (AI), social media and latest technology to conduct the Presidential election in a more innovative manner with relevant organisations.
The Election Commission Chairman requested the media and all other institutions to give their fullest support to conduct a free and fair Presidential election.
The Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake and the members of the Election Commission M. A. P. C. Perera, Anusuya Shanmuganathan and Prof.Lakshman Dissanayake participated in the media conference which was presided over by the Election Commission Chairman R.M.A.L.Rathnayake.
The post Prez poll anouncement before July 31 – EC Chairman appeared first on DailyNews.