The Electoral Commission has approved a programme to conduct by-elections for local government councils, including Special Interest Groups (SIGs), in electoral areas across the country where vacancies exist.
In a statement released by the EC, a total of 56 vacancies for chairpersons and councillors, which occurred as a result of deaths and resignations, will be filled in the various local government councils within 26 districts across the country.
The by-election programme will commence with an update of the National Voters’ Register from June 20 to June 24 at update stations in each parish/ward in the above electoral areas.
The registration and transfer of voters from one polling station to another within parishes/wards in the above-affected electoral areas will not take place after June 24.
The Commission will display the voters’ register at each polling station in the affected electoral areas from July 11 to July 20.
During the display exercise, the Commission will issue Voting Location Slips (VLS) to registered voters to enable them to conveniently locate their respective polling stations on polling day.
The lists of all persons recommended for deletion from the Voters’ Register will also be displayed for six days, from July 22 to July 27, at the respective Parish/Ward Headquarters within the affected electoral areas.
The nomination of candidates will be conducted for a period of two days, starting on August 3 and ending on August 4 at the respective City/District Headquarters.
Candidates’ campaign meetings will be conducted for 11 days, that is, from August 6 to August 16.
Polling for councillors representing special interest groups shall take place on August 17, while polling for chairpersons and councillors shall take place on August 18 at polling stations in the affected electoral areas.