"This also applies to married women who have adopted their husband’s names and appear on the rolls as such. There can be no question of forcing married women to apply for a name change just to have the Voter Register updated. The new law will only apply to women who get married henceforth. Once a person is listed on the National Register of Voters, it should be for life. The name cannot be removed or changed.”
FLP leader MAHENDRA CHAUDHRY
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Queries remain on new electoral laws:
Important issues remain to be resolved regarding the new changes to the electoral laws which require voters to use the name on their birth certificates for registration, says Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry
This amendment to the Electoral Act under Bill 32, making it mandatory for voters to register under the name on their birth certificates, was rushed through Parliament last week without any public debate.
“Surprisingly these important clarifications were not raised by Opposition parliamentarians during debate on the Bill,” Mr. Chaudhry said.
“Firstly, the new law cannot be used retrospectively. This means that voters who are already on the National Register of Voters remain under their registered names because they are on the roll for life,” Mr Chaudhry said.
This also applies to married women who have adopted their husband’s names and appear on the rolls as such. There can be no question of forcing married women to apply for a name change just to have the Voter Register updated.
“The new law will only apply to women who get married henceforth. Once a person is listed on the National Register of Voters, it should be for life. The name cannot be removed or changed,” Mr Chaudhry said.
He warned that unless these issues were clarified expeditiously, thousands of voters could be disenfranchisement, if they did not comply with the laws.
“I must also ask why the Voter Registration Roll has not been published for inspection. It should have been opened up for scrutiny in September.
“ Why also has the Elections Office not carried out the annual national voter registration drive since the 2018 general elections? Both 2019 and 2020 were virtually free of the constraints brought in this year by Covid-19.
“The supervisor is now saying that a nationwide voter registration drive will be held next year from 26 February to 2nd April. A timeframe of just 5 weeks is hardly sufficient,” Mr Chaudhry said.
This amendment to the Electoral Act under Bill 32, making it mandatory for voters to register under the name on their birth certificates, was rushed through Parliament last week without any public debate.
“Surprisingly these important clarifications were not raised by Opposition parliamentarians during debate on the Bill,” Mr. Chaudhry said.
“Firstly, the new law cannot be used retrospectively. This means that voters who are already on the National Register of Voters remain under their registered names because they are on the roll for life,” Mr Chaudhry said.
This also applies to married women who have adopted their husband’s names and appear on the rolls as such. There can be no question of forcing married women to apply for a name change just to have the Voter Register updated.
“The new law will only apply to women who get married henceforth. Once a person is listed on the National Register of Voters, it should be for life. The name cannot be removed or changed,” Mr Chaudhry said.
He warned that unless these issues were clarified expeditiously, thousands of voters could be disenfranchisement, if they did not comply with the laws.
“I must also ask why the Voter Registration Roll has not been published for inspection. It should have been opened up for scrutiny in September.
“ Why also has the Elections Office not carried out the annual national voter registration drive since the 2018 general elections? Both 2019 and 2020 were virtually free of the constraints brought in this year by Covid-19.
“The supervisor is now saying that a nationwide voter registration drive will be held next year from 26 February to 2nd April. A timeframe of just 5 weeks is hardly sufficient,” Mr Chaudhry said.
