Covid19: Electoral Commission Postpones Elections

The Electoral Commission has announced postponement of the program for the election of Special Interest Groups amid the ongoing Covi19 shutdown.

The commission chairman Justice Simon Byabakama announced Friday that the election exercise for Youths, older persons and persons with disabilities had been suspended to a later date.

The nominations for these election had been scheduled to commence this month.

“The postponement has been made as a result of the ongoing mass gatherings in the country as a measure to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus,” Byabakama said.

“The Electoral Commission will at an appropriate time inform the public of any new developments”

With the country still in the early stages of the fight against Coronavirus, it remains to be seen whether or not the timeline for the general (presidential, parliamentary and local council) elections will not be affected.

In February, the electoral body postponed the nomination dates for presidential, parliamentary and local government elections from August to October 2020

This followed concerns raised by Members of Parliament that government business would be suffocated if the nominations are in August which will have the MPs and ministers taking time off to take part in campaigns.

Early this week, Ethiopia announced postponement of their much anticipated national election that was scheduled to be held on Aug. 29.