The Independent Electrol Commission recetly held a press briefing for the upcoming 2016 Presidential Election and calender of activities last Wednesday 8th September, 2016 at the Commission’s Head Office in Bertil Harding Highway on the theme for this year’s Election is “The Gambia Decides; I am voting, are you?”.
Alieu Momar Njai, Chairman of the IEC, said during the voter supplementary registration from Thursday 14th January and 12th March 2016, a total of 89, 649, forming a total of 886, 578 registered voters which is better than 2011 with 796, 929 with an increased of polling stations of 1, 422.
He elaborated on the theme The Gambia: I am voting, are you?, that it is a fundamental right for every registered voter to vote during the whole election.
The Chairman inform the general public that election to the President of The Gambia will be held on Thursday, 1st December 2016 as enshrined in the Commission’s mandate under section 46 of the constitution of The Gambia and Section 40 of the Election Act.
He also cited section 47 of The Constitution and 42 (1) of the Election Act, which highlighted nomination papers will be out on the 3rd November while the nomination of candidates for this year’s presidential election starting from Monday 7th to Thursday 10th November, 2016 from 8am to 4pm at the IEC Headquarters along the Bertil Harding highway, Kanifing.
Mr Njai informed that under Section 5(2) of the Elections Act that the appointed Returning Officer for the election of the Office of the President of the Republic of the Gambia is Alieu Momarr Njai, Chairman of the IEC.
Commissioner Njai declared that the campaign period for this year’s Presidential Election will be held from Wednesday 16th November, 2016 to Tuesday 29th November, 2016 making it 2 weeks.
During the polls for this year’s election, it will open at 8am to 5pm for a 9 hour activities and will be on the spot counting after the close of polls where polling stations would be converted to counting centres,” he disclosed.
Chairman Njai elucidated that the reason for the attachment of D100 for the supplementary voters card is for whose cards are lost, mutilated and defaced until the 29th of September, 2016 but new ones are free of charge provided that you are a Gambian.
He echoed on the recent re-demarcation of some constituencies making it 53, a fresh registration was not conducted in the affected areas, but the Commission will resort to putting constituency stickers on the voting cards of the affected voters to bring that situation in consonance with the law on Election Day.
He emphasized that, this year’s election will continue to be accurate, transparent, free and fair, whilst appealing to the stakeholders and the general public to make it violent free as the Government of The Gambia has provided all the requirements to have the 2016 Presidential Elections done perfectly as planned.
BY: BIRAM S JOBE BB
Alieu Momar Njai, Chairman of the IEC, said during the voter supplementary registration from Thursday 14th January and 12th March 2016, a total of 89, 649, forming a total of 886, 578 registered voters which is better than 2011 with 796, 929 with an increased of polling stations of 1, 422.
He elaborated on the theme The Gambia: I am voting, are you?, that it is a fundamental right for every registered voter to vote during the whole election.
The Chairman inform the general public that election to the President of The Gambia will be held on Thursday, 1st December 2016 as enshrined in the Commission’s mandate under section 46 of the constitution of The Gambia and Section 40 of the Election Act.
He also cited section 47 of The Constitution and 42 (1) of the Election Act, which highlighted nomination papers will be out on the 3rd November while the nomination of candidates for this year’s presidential election starting from Monday 7th to Thursday 10th November, 2016 from 8am to 4pm at the IEC Headquarters along the Bertil Harding highway, Kanifing.
Mr Njai informed that under Section 5(2) of the Elections Act that the appointed Returning Officer for the election of the Office of the President of the Republic of the Gambia is Alieu Momarr Njai, Chairman of the IEC.
Commissioner Njai declared that the campaign period for this year’s Presidential Election will be held from Wednesday 16th November, 2016 to Tuesday 29th November, 2016 making it 2 weeks.
During the polls for this year’s election, it will open at 8am to 5pm for a 9 hour activities and will be on the spot counting after the close of polls where polling stations would be converted to counting centres,” he disclosed.
Chairman Njai elucidated that the reason for the attachment of D100 for the supplementary voters card is for whose cards are lost, mutilated and defaced until the 29th of September, 2016 but new ones are free of charge provided that you are a Gambian.
He echoed on the recent re-demarcation of some constituencies making it 53, a fresh registration was not conducted in the affected areas, but the Commission will resort to putting constituency stickers on the voting cards of the affected voters to bring that situation in consonance with the law on Election Day.
He emphasized that, this year’s election will continue to be accurate, transparent, free and fair, whilst appealing to the stakeholders and the general public to make it violent free as the Government of The Gambia has provided all the requirements to have the 2016 Presidential Elections done perfectly as planned.
BY: BIRAM S JOBE BB