The new Electoral Decree:
58 out of 156 sections are similar to the 1998 Electoral Ordinance and most of the material in that Ordinance is included in this Decree - not surprising as election procedures are fairly standard.
They relate mostly to nominations, the poll, electoral offences and election disputes. This is reassuring, actually.
The new provisions in the Decree involve the Electoral Commission (aren't they already up and running?), postal voting, pre-poll voting and election campaigns and the media.
The drafting style is a mix of old and new, e.g. the decree uses a mix of 'must' and 'shall'.
Pre-poll voting will apply to anyone who -
"(a) resides in a locality that is remote or the number of voters in a locality is not sufficient for the establishment of a polling station;
(b) is a resident of a nursing home or health care facility;
(c) is a member of the disciplined forces; or
(d) is under pre-trial detention or sentence of imprisonment.."
So it will not in fact be a one-day poll after all.
