NLA votes to keep provincial election inspectors

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NLA votes to keep provincial election inspectors

By The Nation

 

The National Reform Steering Assembly (NLA)’s committee vetting the organic law on the Election Commission (EC) has agreed to maintain provincial election inspectors.

 

However, they have not decided whether current election commissioners should stay in their posts if they are not qualified under the new Constitution.

 

Seri Suwanpanont, vice chairman of the committee, said the decision had been reached on Monday.

 

The committee said the inspectors would improve efficiency and fairness in elections better than the provincial election commissioner who is to be removed, Seri explained.

 

The inspectors, who would be from both inside and outside the constituencies, would be more free from local political influence.

 

The idea had been proposed by the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) which was responsible for drafting the organic laws. But it had not been welcomed by the EC, which questioned its practicality.

 

The EC wondered whether it was possible to recruit qualified inspectors when it was not a permanent job but seasonal. They argued that it was better for provincial election commissioners to come from local constituencies because they were familiar with the areas and knew the issues better.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30316189

 

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