THE OFFICE OF THE ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER IS GUILTY OF MANIPULATION?

THE OFFICE OF THE ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER IS GUILTY OF MANIPULATION?

Le Nouveau Seychelles Weekly has learned of serious manipulation of the electoral register that has taken place prior to the National Assembly elections. It is estimated that more than four thousand (4000) names have been moved around to other district without informing the people involved. (Gerrymandering) this is a very serious matter - one that requires the attention of the international observers here to monitor the election. Normally when the office of the Electoral Commissioner finds it necessary to move name(s) from one electoral district to another letters are sent out.

The problem that this situation will cause is enormous, after queuing for hours, on arriving at the front of the queue in the polling station one might discover that his/her name is not on the register of that particular district. And after wasting time queuing up one might get frustrated and decide to go home without casting a vote. This is a direct interference with the democratic process of the country. This state of affair has developed because the office of the Electoral Commissioner has failed, deliberately some are saying, to send out letters warning the electorates whose names have been move to another district. And most people affected by the changes are suspected of being supporters of the opposition.

This newspaper has evidence to prove that the manipulation was directly geared to benefit the ruling party. One family involving three individuals on the voters list for Port Glaud - they all voted in the district of Port Glaud at the last election. As if by magic their names are now on the voters list for Grand Anse Mahe and to make matters worst they do not reside there. The family in question has already spoken to their lawyers and will be filing a case next week.