COPAM to drag EC to court over Limited Voter Registration exercise

The Coalition of Progressive Assembly Members has hinted of a possible legal suit to stop the Electoral Commission from embarking on the ‘district-offices’ based limited voter registration exercise.

According to the coalition, the Electoral Commission’s decision to embark on the limited voter registration exercise at district offices and some selected electoral areas this year is contrary to the practice in previous years.

They say this year’s registration exercise which is to serve as a prelude to the upcoming MMDCE elections is but an attempt to disenfranchise voters.

The limited voter registration exercise is scheduled to commence on June 7, 2019, through to June 27, 2019.

Addressing the media at the press center Thursday, May 30, 2019, convener of the non-partisan coalition, Dr. Richard Fiadomor explained that the EC’s “intended action has proven beyond reasonable doubts that it does not place any serious premium on the upcoming District level elections and the referendum on the elections of MMDCE on partisan basis.”

He emphasized that the EC’s decision will deter possible voters from taking part in the limited voter registration exercise.

In light of this, the coalition Dr. Fiadomor stated that the coalition is “already in touch with solicitors to possibly consider invoking the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court on this obvious illegality being or about to be perpetuated by the EC.”

“The current stance of the EC will mean that for eligible citizens residing in remote or rural communities of the countries, they will have to travel to and from district capitals which, in most cases, are located far from rural dwellings.”

“It is therefore obvious that eligible citizens are going to be subjected to unacceptably long distance travels and extremely inconveniencing situations…”

They have called on the Electoral Commission, to with a matter of urgency, rescind its decision.