IEC pledges "absolutely" free, fair poll
30-07-2016 10:03 AM
Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - The Independent Elections Commission (IEC) Saturday vowed that all measures it had undertaken in the run up to the September 20 parliamentary polls will be fair and transparent, and assured that no one outside the ballot box could affect their outcome.
The polls, in terms of management, measures and outcome, will be "absolutely" fair throughout the various stages and that many guarantees will be assured, said Nazih Amareen, Deputy Commissioner of the IEC.
No authority whatsoever, except the power of the ballot box, can interfere with the election's results, Amareen pledged during a session held at the Irbid Chamber of Commerce, where he outlined the electoral system and legal and oversights measures taken ahead of the polls.
The IEC deputy chief cited the political will to conduct free and fair elections as a key guarantee, stressing the electoral watchdog's independence and its abidance by the law and international criteria related to human rights, women and people with disabilities.
He also said that all decisions taken throughout the electoral process, starting with registration and ending up with the results, are subject to challenge before the judiciary and the authorities concerned. He also pointed that stiff penalties will be imposed against election workers, including fines, imprisonment or both, in case of malpractice.
The IEC official said balloting and vote counting will appear live on screens for candidates or their representatives and observers to watch, adding that more than one thousand CCTV cameras will be placed to monitor the process. He also pointed to the thousands of foreign and local observers, the media and civil society representatives who will monitor the elections.