Mixed voting system in place for local council polls

There will be no marking of preferences for candidates at tomorrow’s Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha election, Executive Director – Institute of Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES), Manjula Gajanayake told a recent televised discussion.

Gajanayake said that local council elections were conducted under a mixed electoral system, where 60 percent of members were elected on the basis of wards while the remaining 40 percent were elected under the proportional representation system.

“As a result, voters in Elpitiya will only see the names and symbols of political parties on the ballot paper. They need only mark a cross against the party of their choice,” Gajanayake said.

At least 25 percent of local councillors must be women. For the Elpitiya local council, that percentage translated to seven female councillors. The votes will be counted at the same location where the ballots are cast.

“Each candidate standing for a registered political party is required to make a deposit of 1,500 rupees, whereas candidates from independent groups must deposit 5,000 rupees. A party or independent group can field up to 31 candidates, which means a registered political party’s total deposit will be 46,500 rupees. An independent group must deposit 155,000 rupees. Eight registered political parties and one independent group are contesting the Elpitiya local council,” Gajanayake said.

He further noted that it was the first local council election where candidates were allowed to spend only 20 rupees per person on election propaganda.

The IRES Executive Director said that as tomorrow’s election is taking place just a few weeks before the parliamentary elections on 14th November, it was expected to serve as a barometer of public sentiment.

“Governments typically use these smaller elections to gauge public opinion. In the past decade or so, we’ve seen how the results of local and provincial council elections have indicated shifts in public preferences,” he added.

Polls would be held in 48 centres, Commissioner General of Elections, Saman Sri Ratnayake told The Island. The staff, material and other necessary items would be despatched to the centres today (25), he said. (RK)