Emad Al-Sayeh speaking at HNEC today (Photo: HNEC)
The Higher National Elections Commission (HNEC) has announced reruns of elections to the House of Representatives in Sebha and Murzuk tomorrow.
Speaking at a press conference at HNEC headquarters this evening, HNEC head Emad Al-Sayeh told reporters that plans were in motion to hold reruns in in the two places after clashes and boycotts had prevented voting from taking place.
In the case of Murzuk, Sayeh said HNEC had agreed with security forces to arrange necessary protection for the polling stations. In Sebha, he said voters would be able to vote at one of two polling stations at which the same list of voters had been registered. Problems arose during voting yesterday in Sebah after authorities were unable to guarantee security in just one polling station.
The HNEC head said elections would be held again in the districts of Kufra and Al-Jmail after authorities had been able to respond to inhabitants’ straightforward demands. He said elections would proceed in the two areas before HNEC’s one-week deadline for the second round elections expired.
Sayeh said only in the case of voting in Derna, where 17 polling stations did not open to the electorate yesterday, was HNEC unable to reach a solution. He called upon the Ministry of Interior “to secure this town as soon as possible” and allow elections to take place.
Sayeh said it was HNEC’s intention to ensure a handover of power to the new House of Representatives before the end of July. He said once 70 percent of the results from each constituency had been counted, then the announcement of preliminary results could be concluded and the 15-days appeal process could begin. Once all appeals had been reviewed, he explained, the handover from the General National Congress (GNC) could begin.
The HNEC head said the first batch of preliminary results would be available tomorrow and that elections reports and other materials had already reached the capital for processing from Tripoli, Aziziya, Zawia, Beni Walid, Misrata and Zliten.
Sayeh once again congratulated Libyans on their achievements and reiterated that a great deal had been achieved in less than perfect circumstances.
Libya Herald staff
