CMEV urges to postpone general election

COLOMBO (News1st): The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence has urged the National Election Commission (NEC) to postpone the general election citing that the current situation surrounding COVID - 19 will not contribute towards ensuring a free and fair election. Issuing a statement, the CMEV pointed out that the risk of transmitting the virus is high as many activities concerning the election would involve people being in close contact with each other. This includes the period during the election campaign, the election day, and also during the counting process. The local election monitoring group stated that the spread of COVID - 19 could also contribute negatively towards the voter turnout on the day of the election. "This also broadly impacts voters’ right to freely exercise their vote, and the ability to hold a free and fair election," CMEV said. The statement noted that the NEC can request the President to withdraw the Extraordinary Gazette on dissolving Parliament and calling for an election. Further, the CMEV said that the NEC can issue a gazette postponing the election after the deadline to accept nomination ends.