The much postponed Local Government (LG) Elections will finally be held on Tuesday, May 6. Although nominations were submitted in 2023 to hold the LG elections, the Election Commission (EC) was forced to postpone the polls due to the failure, deliberate or otherwise, of the previous Government to provide the requisite funds to hold the elections. Some of its key leaders even mocked the very process of elections.
The Government should conduct a probe as to why the LG elections were postponed repeatedly, depriving the people of their cherished franchise. This also violated the Supreme Court (SC) ruling for the elections to be duly held. The Government should consider enacting legislation for making elections to be held on due dates as in the United States.
In the US, the appointed date for the Presidential Elections in November once every four years cannot be put off under whatever circumstances. Not all nations enjoy the privilege of franchise. Hence, we should take every measure to preserve and protect this right in this country. Rulers should not be allowed to decide when elections are to be held or annulled depending on their whims and fancies.
Much is riding for the new NPP Government at the upcoming LG elections because it will be the first election it will face following its outstanding victories at the Presidential and Parliamentary elections. The LG elections will also turn out to be a test of the NPP Government’s performance so far. While the results are not going to change the Government, it will be an ideal opportunity for it to effect any changes and course corrections.
Going by past history it has mostly been the Government in power that has won all mini-elections that followed. This is mostly because the people do not want to rock the boat at such early stages into the rule of any new Government. They instead prefer to give the Government time to consolidate itself before starting to deliver on the promises. Besides, if the Central Government and LG bodies sing from the same hymn sheet, it is more beneficial to the public at village level who are fed up with bitter political rivalries. However, all parties will try to gain a greater share than what they obtained during the Presidential and General Elections.
More than national-level elections, this is a poll where local issues come to the fore – from broken culverts to dilapidated roads. Some politicians loathe the D-word, but local bodies embody devolution in action, distilled to the village level. They are also a political crucible for aspiring politicians. Earlier, the trend was to groom the sons, daughters, nephews and nieces of established politicians to capture power of local bodies and climb the political ladder from there. However, most political parties have moved away from this practice and given prominence to professionally qualified youth who have no relatives in politics, at the LG polls.
In 2022, the people showed in no uncertain terms that sovereignty lies truly with them. But an election is an even potent instrument to prove our democratic credentials and the electorate must use it prudently. This is why it is essential to cast your vote.
In fact, voter apathy has become a major issue in countries such as Sri Lanka where voting is not compulsory. (In countries such as Australia, where a General Election was held yesterday, voting is compulsory). Some voters have not even bothered to enrol themselves in the electoral register, which does not augur well for democracy. The franchise is a fundamental right and people should exercise it whenever an opportunity presents itself.
One wonders whether opening postal voting to all voters, as done in some countries, will make a difference in addressing voter apathy. At present it is available only to Public Servants, Police and Security Forces personnel who are on election duty. But in many other countries, postal or mail-in voting is offered to registered voters who might not be able to visit the polling booth in person on election day due to advanced age, illness, disability or lack of transport options. The EC and the Government should consider this option, apart from extending the postal voting facility to those working in hospitals, media, ports/airports, passenger transport and power plants who might not be able to avail themselves of the elections leave due to the 24/7 nature of their jobs.
There have been several discussions on extending the postal voting facility to Sri Lankan expatriates working overseas and also to dual citizens domiciled abroad. Many countries facilitate remote voting for their citizens living abroad by allowing them to register online and opening physical polling booths at their Embassies. Such a step might probably require an amendment to electoral laws or even the Constitution itself, but it is an option worth pursuing.
After all, almost two million Sri Lankans live abroad and as things stand now, they are effectively disenfranchised unless they come to Sri Lanka especially to vote in person. After all, they make a massive contribution to the local economy by remitting around US$ 5 billion annually and it is only fair that we give them an opportunity to raise their voice through the ballot. Elections have consequences and at the end of the day, you have to count every vote – and every vote counts.
