This morning I met the Chief Electoral Commissioner to discuss a pending request from ADPD on being given access to the electoral counting data as is currently given to the PLPN. When the counting of votes was done manually it was possible to carry out visual monitoring to ensure that the counting process was properly managed. This cannot be done today without access to the electronic data held by the Commission. PLPN have been given this right of access and they can as a result check and verify the counting process.
The Electoral Commission is withholding this right of access to ADPD. Without such a right of access to data held by the Commission we cannot verify the counting process and consequently we cannot put our mind at rest as to the absence of foul play in the process. The Commission has been aware for some time as to our request, and hence it is not acceptable to be informed at such a late hour of their refusal to grant the requested access. The Commission is basing its position on the electoral law which grants exclusive rights of access to political parties represented in parliament. The law, however grants the Commission the authority to remedy such issues. If the Commission keeps refusing to solve the problem it will confirm that PLPN have hijacked this important institution in ensuring that the electoral process is run fairly.
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Stqarrija taċ-Chairperson tal-ADPD Carmel Cacopardo dwar il-proċess elettorali
Dalgħodu kelli laqgħa mal-Kummissarju Elettorali Ewlieni dwar it-talba pendenti tal-partit li l-Kummissjoni Elettorali tagħtina l-istess aċċess għall-informazzjoni dwar il-proċess tal-għadd tal-voti li qed tagħti lill-PLPN.
Meta l-għadd tal-voti kien isir b’mod manwali kien possibli għalina li nagħmlu l-verifiki kollha meħtieġa biex nassiguraw ruħna li l-għadd tal-voti kien qed isir sewwa. Illum dan ma nistgħux nagħmluh mingħajr aċċess għad-data elettronika li taħżen il-Kummissjoni Elettorali. Il-PLPN għandhom dan l-aċċess u jistgħu jagħmlu l-verifiki tagħhom dwar il-proċess kollu tal-għadd.
Il-Kummissjoni Elettorali qed iċċaħħad dan id-dritt ta’ aċċess lill-ADPD. Mingħajr ma jkollna l-istess aċċess għad-data tal-Kummissjoni bħal ma għandhom il-PLPN biex ikunu jistgħu jsiru l-kontrolli meħtieġa ta’ verifika dwar il-proċess kollu tal-għadd tal-voti m’għandniex moħħna mistrieħ li l-proċess hu wieħed ġust u nieqes mit-tbagħbis.
Il-Kummissjoni ilha taf dwar dan u mhux aċċettabbli li tinfurmana li qed tiċħdilna dan l-aċċess fl-aħħar minuta. Il-Kummissjoni qed tistrieh fuq il-liġi li tagħti drittijiet esklussivi ta’ aċċess lill-partiti fil-parlament. Il-liġi, iżda, tippermetti lill-kummissjoni li tirrimedja dan. Jekk il-Kummissjoni ser tibqa’ tonqos milli tagħmel dan ser tkompli tikkonferma kemm il-PLPN ikkapparraw b’mod assolut din l-istituzzjoni importanti għall-ħasien tal-proċess elettorali.
