23 April 2020 12:01 am Views - 231
By Sandun A. Jayasekera
A proposal has been made by a number of experts to hold the election using digital technology under the uncertain situation prevalent in the country.
Vice Chancellor of the Uva Wellassa University, Prof. Jayantha Lal Ratnasekara said there were three options for the EC to conduct the Parliamentary polls with least possible exposure of voters, officials, Police and armed forces personnel to the COVID-19 viral infection.
One is to use voting machines that would minimize paper work, deployment of a large number of election officials and gathering of voters in large numbers at polling stations. The second option is to scan the ballot paper and take a count. An optical scan voting system is also an electronic voting system and uses an optical scanner to read marked paper ballots and tally the results. Thirdly, arrangements should be made for voters to cast their vote through the internet or via email using even their personal computers, Prof. Ratnasekara said.
“To be successful to vote using one of these systems, the EC must set the stage necessary know how, machinery and laws. The EC has already register candidates online and attempts have been made to introduce voting machines for more than 15 years. Besides, Parliament is already using machines to vote in Parliament, Prof. Ratnasekara said.
“If there is a will, there is way. The technology is the best solution to hold the election without the CIOVID-19 as an impediment. Necessity has no law,” he added.
Executive Director of the prominent elections monitoring NGO, Peoples Action For Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) Rohana Hettiarachchi admitting that use of technology would help to conduct the election in safer and hassle-free manner, said new laws had to be introduced to go ahead with the task.
The last day for the EC to take a final decision on the date to hold the election is May 2. The problem is that do we have enough time to bring new laws and prepare a fresh for a technology assisted poll? I believe, the political parties must also agree to conduct a technology-oriented election,” Mr. Hettiarachchi stressed.
President Bar Association of the Sri Lanka (BASL), U.R. de Silva PC said if the EC failed to decide to fix a date for the election on or before May 2, any voter has the right to seek legal redress through a petition to the Supreme Court.
However, if all efforts failed to hold election in time to convene the new Parliament before June 2, under the provisions of the Constitution, the President could use his discretionary power to recall Parliament after discussing the issue with the EC, he said.
Commenting on the expenses issue of the state, Mr. de Silva said though the election could not be held in the stipulated period of time, the President also has the power to obtain funds from the consolidated fund after the date to meet the new Parliament, is decided after the polls under the sub section 3 and 4 of the paragraph 150 of the Constitution.
“The EC, President and all other stakeholders must review and attend to all functions related to the election in bona-fide intentions as Sri Lanka has never confronted a grave problem like COVID-19 viral infection. It is entirely a new threat and a new experience to the country, Mr. de Silva emphasized.