The Election Commission of the Maldives proposes to conduct elections at any date suggested by the Election Commission during the parliamentary committee meeting.
Speaking at the Parliament Committee on Independent institutions to review the Special Act of the Local Council Election 2020, the Chairman of the Elections Commission, Mr. Ahmed Shareef praised the Parliaments' efforts in reviewing the Special Act of the Local Council Election 2020. Shareef highlighted the urgency of conducting the elections sooner.
Speaking further, Shareef shared his concerns from the Elections Commission to the amendments suggested for the Special Act of the Local Council Election 2020. As a first concern, Shareef said that the Election Commission wants the independence to conduct the Elections on any date proposed by the Election Commission. Shareef emphasized his concerns on someone else having a say in it, while under the constitution, the Election Commission gets all the power regarding the elections. As a second concern, Shareef proposed that no one should be advising the Commission on how to conduct elections. He also said that the Health Protection Agency can propose health and safety guidelines to conduct the election, and the Election Commission refers to it while planning on how to conduct the Election.
Shareef also raised his concerns on the amendment proposed to shorten the deadlines of election procedures mentioned in the constitution. Shareef spoke in a way rejecting the suggestion to the amendments to the Elections act.
The Local Council Election 2020, was initially postponed from an amendment brought to the constitution following the Covid-19 pandemic. As per the new constitution amendment, the Local Council Election dates have to be announced after one week of dismissal of the Public health emergency.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has already announced to hold the Local Council Election on March 6, 2021. Although it is an unofficial announcement, the Commission has stated that the election will be held with approval from HPA during the state of a public health emergency. With the urgency for the Local Council Election, the Parliament began this week to review the Special Act of the Local Council Election 2020.
Speaking at the Parliament Committee on Independent institutions to review the Special Act of the Local Council Election 2020, the Chairman of the Elections Commission, Mr. Ahmed Shareef praised the Parliaments' efforts in reviewing the Special Act of the Local Council Election 2020. Shareef highlighted the urgency of conducting the elections sooner.
Speaking further, Shareef shared his concerns from the Elections Commission to the amendments suggested for the Special Act of the Local Council Election 2020. As a first concern, Shareef said that the Election Commission wants the independence to conduct the Elections on any date proposed by the Election Commission. Shareef emphasized his concerns on someone else having a say in it, while under the constitution, the Election Commission gets all the power regarding the elections. As a second concern, Shareef proposed that no one should be advising the Commission on how to conduct elections. He also said that the Health Protection Agency can propose health and safety guidelines to conduct the election, and the Election Commission refers to it while planning on how to conduct the Election.
Shareef also raised his concerns on the amendment proposed to shorten the deadlines of election procedures mentioned in the constitution. Shareef spoke in a way rejecting the suggestion to the amendments to the Elections act.
The Local Council Election 2020, was initially postponed from an amendment brought to the constitution following the Covid-19 pandemic. As per the new constitution amendment, the Local Council Election dates have to be announced after one week of dismissal of the Public health emergency.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has already announced to hold the Local Council Election on March 6, 2021. Although it is an unofficial announcement, the Commission has stated that the election will be held with approval from HPA during the state of a public health emergency. With the urgency for the Local Council Election, the Parliament began this week to review the Special Act of the Local Council Election 2020.
