• EC instructs District Returning Officers to wrap up by end July

The process of voter registration for 2024, which commenced on 1 January, is expected to be concluded by late next month (July), the Elections Commission (EC) stated yesterday (16).

Voter registration pertaining to this year was initially planned to be commenced from 1 February, but the EC announced that the related work would begin from 1 January, in view of the upcoming Presidential Election.

When asked about the current status of the related work, EC Chairperson R.M.A.L. Ratnayake said that the related work is currently being carried out at the district level. "When the voters' registry is finalised, the relevant District Returning Officer has to endorse it. We have instructed them to conclude the process by late July."

Earlier this year, the EC stated that the work related to the preparation of the voters' registry had to be expedited in view of the upcoming Presidential election. "It is the voter registration for 2024 that we consider for the Presidential Election. As per the Constitution, the Presidential Election should be held before 16 October. We will have to call for nominations and complete other processes too. The voters' register should be prepared before all such work." the EC stated.

The Presidential Election is scheduled to be held between 17 September and 16 October this year. There are speculations and allegations that there is an attempt to extend the term of office of incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe without holding the Presidential Election, a charge that the President’s office and the Prime Minister’s office has denied. The EC has however maintained that the Presidential Election would be held within the due course, emphasising that there is no way for it to be avoided.