In a concerted effort to safeguard the integrity of the recently held general election, the Election Commission (EC) has initiated a series of measures. Central among these actions is the recommendation for vote recounts in select party list constituencies. This decision was prompted by the discovery of unused voting cards that had been distributed during the election process. To add to the complexity of the situation, the EC is now faced with the urgent task of addressing over 280 disputes challenging the validity of the election results.
The EC emphasized that these disputes encompass a wide range of issues and are not all interconnected. It further acknowledged that some of these concerns carry significant weight and could potentially have far-reaching consequences. Following a thorough examination of the cases, the EC has dismissed certain complaints for lacking substantial evidence. However, it is diligently investigating those grievances that appear to hold merit.
The scope of the investigation extends to approximately 20 to 30 elected officials from across the political spectrum. The allegations under scrutiny span a broad spectrum, including accusations of vote-buying, deceptive campaign strategies, and smear campaigns designed to tarnish reputations. The gravity of each case will be assessed based on the evidence presented.
According to the law, the EC is only authorized to announce election results for constituency-based Members of Parliament (MPs) if it is confident that the election was conducted in a fair and just manner, and after reviewing at least 95% of all electoral districts. Moreover, the EC has emphasized its commitment to expedite the process of officially recognizing and endorsing MPs, aiming to conclude this procedure within a 60-day timeframe.
In a related development, the EC is poised to propose a vote recount for certain proportional representation MPs in the coming week. This decision follows the revelation of discrepancies between the number of votes tallied and the actual number of individuals who cast their votes in these units. Preliminary analysis suggests that these inconsistencies may have arisen due to double-counting or errors in the marking process during vote tabulation.
