NEC announces plans for registration of voter list for 2024 validation

THE National Election Committee (NEC) has announced that it will begin the registration, revision and validation of the 2024 voter list from September 1 to November 30. This will enable Khmer citizens who have not previously registered, new voters who have just turned 18 and those who have recently relocated to register in the commune where they currently reside.

According to the NEC directive signed by its chairman Prach Chan, the process will follow established regulations and procedures for annual voter list validation.

“Voter list registration and revision in communes across the country will take place from September 1-16. To be eligible to register, individuals must be 18 years old by November 30. This means they must be born on or before December 1, 2006,” stated the directive.

It added that the Department of Voter Data Management and Voter List, under the NEC’s General Department of Legal and Technical Services, will oversee the distribution of the final official voter list in three copies: one for display in commune halls and urban areas, another for 2024 registration and revision, and a final one for internal records.

“The NEC shall invite citizens previously registered with expired national identity cards or incorrect data on the 2023 list to update their information. This invitation aims to ensure voter list accuracy and eligibility for upcoming elections,” it said.

NEC deputy secretarygeneral Mok Dara said on February 20 that this process adheres to the established annual registration requirement as mandated by law.

“All eligible individuals who have relocated, are unregistered or recently turned 18 are encouraged to apply for voter registration promptly. Timely registration ensures voting eligibility for upcoming elections,” he said.

Ly Sothearayuth, secretarygeneral of the Candlelight Party (CP), welcomed the NEC’s initiative to begin the voter list registration and verification process as this allows individuals to register for the first time or update their existing information.

He also called for information on this matter to be disseminated comprehensively, with involvement from civil society organisations, and urged relevant authorities to facilitate the process quickly, transparently and responsibly to ensure unregistered citizens can register to vote in the future.

Neither Sam Kuntheamy, executive director of the NGO Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (NICFEC), nor FUNCINPEC party spokesman Nhoeun Raden could be reached for comment.