PA Approves More General Elections Bill Articles
PA DAMASCUS-The People’s Assembly (PA) continued on Monday to discuss and approve articles of the general elections bill.
Chaired by Speaker Mohammad Jihad al-Lahham, the PA session approved the articles from 105 to 117 which deal with how the Syrians abroad can vote in elections.
The articles; 105, 106 and 107 of the bill allow Syrian voters abroad to cast their ballots by using their valid Syrian passports which are stamped by any Syrian border ports.
They also permit candidates’ representatives to attend the election process, votes counting and the announcement of results at the embassies election centers. Papers relating to the election process should be sent to concerned committees in Syria by means of the Foreign and Expatriates Ministry.
Yesterday, the PA approved articles from 61 to 104 of the bill. The articles are related to the election process, counting of votes, announcing of results, challenging of the validity of results, vacancy cases, referendum and the participation of the Syrians abroad in voting.
Interior Minister Mohammad al-Sha’ar affirmed that all civil register secretariats in Syrian provinces were ready to issue identity cards for those who lost their IDs or had them damaged.
As for the Syrians abroad, articles 99 and 104 of the bill of general elections give the right for the Syrians abroad to vote in the presidential elections at the Syrian embassies unless there is a legal reason preventing them from practicing this right.
H. Mustafa