NOVANEWS
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), in its capacity of a local observation body accredited by the Central Elections Commission (CEC), began monitoring the voter registry update in the Gaza Strip on Monday, 11th February 2013. PCHR’s observation team, consisting of 28 members, and PCHR’s fieldworkers are liaising with the registry offices identified by the CEC.
The CEC resumed its activities in the Gaza Strip, for the second time, after Hamas and Fattah movements reached an agreement in Cairo to open the registration in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank simultaneously, from 11th to 18th February 2013.
In this context, PCHR emphasizes that voter registry is a pure technical procedure to ensure the people’s right to participate in the electoral procedure (voting and being nominated for candidature). Nevertheless, this procedure has significant indications especially under the state of political split in the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. PCHR hopes that serious steps will be taken to ensure the implementation of the national reconciliation and restoration of respect of the PNA institutions, including the holding of general elections (presidential and legislative) as soon as possible, under fair conditions that reflect the will of the Palestinian electorate.
It should be noted that PCHR has previous experience in this field, as it has acted as an observation body in all elections organized under the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) since its establishment. PCHR monitored the presidential and legislative elections of 1996, the presidential elections of 2005, and the legislative elections of 2006. PCHR’s observation team is well trained and qualified to monitor the whole electoral process.
PCHR stresses that monitoring the whole electoral process is part of its support for democratic transform in the PNA.
