NEC issue preparation guidelines to ensure ‘fair’ 5th Senate election
IN A move to ensure a fair and transparent Senate election, the National Election Committee (NEC) has issued comprehensive guidelines to regional election commissions and political parties.
The instructions detail the dissemination of party and candidate lists across regions and outline the process for political entities to register agents, tasked with overseeing the integrity of polling and ballot counting in the upcoming race, set to be held on February 25.
According to the NEC’s January 5 directive, this is in accordance with the Law on Election of Members of the Senate, the Law on the Amendment of the Election Law and the regulations and procedures for Senate election.
“The process of registration of political parties and the list of candidates for the Senate election for the fifth term and the lucky draw to determine the order of the names of political parties on the ballot has been completed. Four political parties are running in all eight regional constituencies,” said the NEC.
“The NEC would like to inform the capital-provincial electoral commissions and all political parties officially registered to stand for election about some tasks that need continuous attention, such as posting the list of political parties running for election and the list of candidates for the region. The commissions must publicly publish these lists in their territories,” it added.
According to the directive, the commissions must produce additional copies of these lists in sufficient numbers to be displayed at strategic locations such as the capital-provincial election commission offices and in major urban
areas, with official public publication starting on January 26.
The NEC stated that all registered political parties have the right to assign two individuals as agents to monitor polling and ballot counting stations.
One person is a full-rights agent and the other a reserve agent, to observe the election and the counting of ballots in the capital or provinces of the constituency in which they are standing for election.
“The deadline for submission and receipt of applications for registration of political party agents is no later than seven days after the date of posting the list of political parties and the official list of candidates, starting on January 27 and ending on February 2,” the NEC stated.
Chhim Chanthoeun, director of the Kampong Cham provincial election commission, stated on January 7 that the work has been carried out in accordance with the NEC’s recommendations.
He said the group had received applications for two agents from civil society organisations, but none yet from political parties, adding that the registration process was ongoing.
Kimsour Phirith, a candidate for the Khmer Will Party, said that following receipt of the instructions, the party will be prepared to deploy election observation agents in accordance with the guidelines.
“We will adhere to the NEC’s instructions, including the set dates and two agents per polling station,” he said.