Gaza, 25/7/2016--- Seeking to enhance freedom of expression and the right to access information from an independent resource, Press House- Palestine organized Face The Press Program on Al-Quds Radio about the local election, which is supposed to hold on 8th of October.
The meeting was attended by Jamel Al-Khaldy, Regional Director of the Central Election commission in Gaza- Ashraf Abu Kheseiwan, journalist in Ketab Channel- and MAgeda Al-belbeisy, journalist in Al-Quds Newspaper- as well as the journalist Hanan Dghaim.
Al-Khaldy confirmed that the reason beyond poor turnout to election registration by citizens is that the electronic registration has reduces the burden of paper registration.
He said, " we now upon the process of publications and objections; it is a good process to the right path, where the registration process ends on Wednesday , thus we will have a final archive."
Al-Khaldy noted that election committee has prepared special centers for people with disability, and staff with experience in the field since the presidency election in 2015 and local elections in 2016, took place in West bank.
He also noted that there is an edit on Law (10), which attains a percentage of 20% for women to participate, saying :" we are glad that women highly participate in the elections to make the process special, and I call all factions to get women involved in the elections."
During his speech, al-Khaldy highlighted a case of carelessness and indifference in Palestinians due to fear of never following the articles of conventions.
He also explained that the election which will be held on 8th , October of this year will include awareness raising campaigns, through radios, TV channels, Posters, interviews with people, and electronic websites, stressing on the importance of the roles of factions and civil community organizations in raising the awareness of people and confirming their rights to participating in the elections.
He assured that higher turnout is, the strong credibility would be.
He explained that publication, obligation, new voters, data refreshment, title change processes will take 5 days, starting from this week and ending next Wednesday, noting that the committee will take into consideration the electricity shortage in the Gaza strip.
Al-Khaldy assured that nobody will be able to block or postpone election process due to the honor conventions signed by all Palestinian faction, and which stressed on the importance of successfully holding the election in a specific time upon results privacy and respect all candidates far away from slandering or abusing.
Regarding the short time of registration, Al-Khaldy said that the proportion of the enrolled voter is 86% till now, considering it as a highly good percentage.
He noted that the committee will also train a big number of monitors to supervise and check out elections, which is considered to be the basic standard to hold a fair and transparent election process.
Regarding the financial process, Al-Khaldy indicated that each candidate should present a financial statement of the election committees, that shows the amount of money invested and the source of funding upon the law.
Al-Khaldy asserted that everyone should follow the ethical instructions, and never use socil media means in slandering, calling all factions to positively use websites.
He explained that the election committee cannot control and monitor all these websites, since it is so expensive and technically tiring as well as legally difficult.
He said that any group of people can form a list to participate in the election, assrting that the number of candidates should not be less than 5, where they must exceed the age of 25, not be in a misdemeanor, and never be an employee in the municipal Body.
About lowering the candidate age and increasing in woman participate, Al-Khaldy said," the role of election committee is executive only , where modifying laws is legislative Council responsibility, adding that women representation is only 20% at minimum.
He added, " Hamas knows what is required from its faction, where the civilian should be objective and considering election as a solution of the recent crisis."
Al-Khaldy explained that election budget reaches 8,000,000 dollar, distributed among buying devices for registration , election and salaries of supervisors and employees, who are estimated to be 8000 in Gaza and West bank, as well as transportation and power generators.
He hopes that everyone respects the results of elections, so that disappointment case would not be spread among Palestinians, noting that if Hamas wins in the election, the international community should respect this result and never help Political division to take place all over again.
Al-Khaldy stressed on protecting voting centers by security devices and police, where he denied any payment for police for providing protection to voting centers.
He clarified that the security device members will vote on 6th of October, two days before the formal day of election, so that they could offer well protection services during election process.
Al-Khaldy noted that UNRWA school and Civil community organizations will be used as election centers.
Regarding people with disability, he asserted that the election committee has prepared a good plan and complete programs for people with disability unions.
