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Momodou
Denmark
11738 Posts |
 Posted - 25 Nov 2006 : 04:09:48
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IEC CHAIRMAN ON MASS TRANSFER OF VOTERS CARDS
The Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Alhaji Mustapha L. Carayol has indicated that there will not be mass transfer of voter’s cards before the National Assembly Election. Mr. Carayol made this statement at a press conference held on Wednesday, 22nd November 2006, at the IEC Headquarters, at Kairaba Avenue.
The IEC Chairman indicated that the next fourteen months would be very significant for this country due to the fact that the IEC will conduct a series of elections during this period. He said it is during this period that the IEC will conduct the National Assembly and Local Government Elections. He said the commission envisages that the period will be marked with programmes and activities that will include all stakeholders and partners. Mr. Carayol indicated that people are all aware that the IEC conducted a successful Presidential Election in September 2006. He said there has been a significant leap in all areas especially in the area of access to Public Media. He pointed out that the IEC will endeavour to engage the print and Electronic Media as partners in order to facilitate the sensitization of the public as enshrined in section 94 of the Election Decree. Mr. Carayol told the representatives of the political parties and journalists that he is pleased to announce that the IEC has fixed the calendar of the National Assembly Elections as follows:
a) Nomination of candidates 4th to 6th January, 2007
b) Collection of Nomination Papers and election regulations from the 14th of December 2006.
c) Official campaign runs from the 10th of January 2007 to 23rd January 2007.
d) Election day for the National Assembly is Thursday 25th January, 2007.
Mr. Carayol asserted that there are 989 polling stations and 48 counting centres. He said the commission has decided to contract more Polling Assistants to help direct voters to their appropriate Polling Stations. He said this decision is triggered by the fact that some voters experienced problems during the last Presidential election. He noted that transportation was a problem during the Presidential Election, and in order to address this problem; he said the commission would now hire more vehicles in addition to the commandeered vehicles to ensure the timely collection of the ballot drums and personnel to the counting centers. The chairman pointed out that the commission has appointed the following persons as Returning Officers in the seven (7) administrative areas in accordance with section 5 Subsection 2 of the Election Decree.
Mr. Carayol said that the IEC will embark on a massive voter Education Campaign very soon. He said they will use the media to sensitise people on the transfer and replacement of voters cards and the National Assembly Elections. Responding to a question raised by a NADD representative Modou Lamin Touray regarding the timing of the transfer and the election, the IEC official gave the assurance that this time there would be no mass transfers because the law on transfer would be strictly observed.
In the same vein the UDP representative Shyngle Nyassi raised the issue of transporting voters from one place to another by party stalwarts, the IEC official said such an exercise would not be allowed.
Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 104/2006, 24-26 November, 2006
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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