‘Electoral Commission on track for October elections’ |08 September 2020

Mrs Amesbury (Photo: Joena Meme)

“The Electoral Commission (EC) is on track for the October elections to be held from October 22-24, 2020 on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue, including on the outer islands.

This was said by the chief electoral officer, Manuella Amesbury, during the commission’s second press catch-up held at its headquarters at ex-Sacos Tower, yesterday afternoon.

The objective of the catch-up is for the commission to share as much information in relation to its work leading up to the upcoming presidential and National Assembly elections.

With one month and fourteen days left before the elections, Mrs Amesbury stated that the commission has already identified all of its electoral officers, presiding officers and deputies to work in the voting stations in the districts. Voting over the three days will this year be held in secondary schools.

She noted that the commission is also working to finalise a list of places to be named as special voting stations.

According to Mrs Amesbury, all the identified election officers have been trained and they will later attend a simulation session on the management of election process at voting stations which will take place at an election simulation centre to be set up.

The centre will also cater for education of voters.

The voter’s education programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the police department will be in relation to precautions against the spread of Covid-19 and election offences.

The commission will also be assisted with the services of the Red Cross Society of Seychelles (RCSS) at all polling stations.

Mrs Amesbury stated that voters will be urged to wear masks at polling stations as well as use hand sanitisers which will be provided, among other health measures which will be put in place.

The commission has also set up an email address – complaints@ecs.sc – for people wishing to make any complaints to the commission.

She stressed on the importance of having complaints in writing to facilitate registration, rather than making them by phone.

She said that most of the election’s equipment are in the country and for voting, IDs and passports, among other certified documents, can be used for identification.

Mrs Amesbury said the commission has up to now recorded four candidates from four political parties to participate in the presidential election while two others have registered as independent candidates.

Four political parties and four independent candidates have registered to participate in the assembly election.

She noted though that the number of participants for the presidential and legislative elections will be determined after the nomination days of September 16, 2020 and September 18, 2020. For nomination day, candidates will apart from providing their signature will also have to provide their IDs.

On whether it is permissible for someone to present him or herself as candidates for both presidential and legislative elections, Mrs Amesbury stated that the commission will come out with a declaration on the subject later.

As for international observers, those coming from low risk countries with regard to Covid-19 restriction in the country, will spend fourteen days in quarantine at their initial place of residence in the country while those coming from high risk countries will spend their fourteen days at quarantine facilities prior to observing the election.

The ballot papers will be printed in Dubai.

Due to some election details still under discussion, Mrs Amesbury said that further information in relation to the upcoming elections will be given in the next press catch-up.

Patrick Joubert