Lawmakers threw out a part of the Election Bill yesterday that would have killed the current voter list. This section had planned to make all voters register again under new rules. The joint Assembly committee talked long and hard before they decided this idea should disappear from the bill.
Justice Minister Dawda Jallow argued the Independent Electoral Commission should control these decisions since they run elections. He pointed out a big problem with keeping that rule. If they passed it, the voter list would vanish immediately. Any sudden election would become impossible because no legal voter list would exist.
Jallow mentioned this could stop any upcoming referendum until officials built a completely new registration system. Several Assembly members fought to keep the requirement, but they lost badly. The final count showed 26 votes against the clause, 5 for it, and two members choosing not to vote.
Hopes for letting Gambians living overseas vote crashed again during the same session. Twenty-five Assembly members blocked diaspora voting rights. All these votes came from NPP party folks, their friends in NRP, plus appointed and independent members. Just fourteen lawmakers, almost all from the opposition UDP, tried to give Gambians abroad voting power.
Justice Minister Dawda Jallow argued the Independent Electoral Commission should control these decisions since they run elections. He pointed out a big problem with keeping that rule. If they passed it, the voter list would vanish immediately. Any sudden election would become impossible because no legal voter list would exist.
Jallow mentioned this could stop any upcoming referendum until officials built a completely new registration system. Several Assembly members fought to keep the requirement, but they lost badly. The final count showed 26 votes against the clause, 5 for it, and two members choosing not to vote.
Hopes for letting Gambians living overseas vote crashed again during the same session. Twenty-five Assembly members blocked diaspora voting rights. All these votes came from NPP party folks, their friends in NRP, plus appointed and independent members. Just fourteen lawmakers, almost all from the opposition UDP, tried to give Gambians abroad voting power.
