EC warns against female candidate intimidation

• Special police hotline to lodge complaints concerning female candidates
• EC to submit cabinet proposal for advance voting option
• State media outlets vow to be impartial

The Elections Commission (EC) yesterday warned candidates that attempting to intimidate female candidates would only be detrimental to their own political career, citing instances of female candidate intimidation in the Eastern and North-eastern regions of the country. 

“We received a complaint from the Eastern Province, where in Pudukuduirippu a female candidate stated that she had been prevented from coming into hand in her nomination. We are carrying out an investigation into it and a special police team has been sent there to ascertain details”, Elections Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya told journalists yesterday.

 Referring to another incident in Puttalam where a group had used loudspeakers asking not to vote for women, Deshapriya said that these regions were being closely monitored by authorities. 

“Two teams will be deployed on 8 January to these areas to ascertain whether tighter security measures would be needed. District officers too are scrutinising the regions to determine whether female candidates require protection,” he said.

The police has also assigned a separate hotline 0113024884, where complaints regarding intimidation of female candidates can be lodged. 

“If there are any barriers impeding the freedom to vote, we will not hesitate to postpone elections in those particular areas,” Deshapriya asserted. 

Pertaining to wards under the Proportional Representation system, the Elections Commission has the power to inform parties to nominate more women if the relevant party is not able to elect enough women through the First-Past-the-Post system.

“If a party does not succeed in having its 25 percent quota of women being voted in, the Elections Commission will ask the party to appoint more women using PR. Thus the campaign that women should be in the kitchen, will only play to the disadvantage of the candidates who carry out such campaigns,” said Deshapriya.

Additionally, Deshpariya disclosed that a proposal would be submitted to the cabinet shortly to amend laws to allow advance voting for those unable to vote on the election date.

“A lot of doctors, nurses and even journalists are unable to vote on the scheduled election date. Therefore we are currently formulating a cabinet proposal so that lawmakers can make provisions for advance voting.”

The EC Chairman further said that he had met with the heads of all state media institutions, who had promised to be impartial.

“We ask all media establishments, both state and private, to ensure a level playing field for all candidates,” he said.

He then noted that the EC is scheduled to meet with the Committee of Permanent Representatives of Media on 8 January.  (SG)