Ladies and Gentlemen:

Below is a letter we received from the IEC.This is in
response to our letter of inquiry about the
registration  process and participation of Gambians
abroad in the upcoming General Elections.


 THE REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA
INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION
Fair Play Integrity and Transparency
7 Kairaba Avenue, Latrikunda,
Kombo St.Marys division
Po Box 793
Banjul, The Gambia, West Africa
Tel.: 373804/374311
Fax: 373803
E-mail: [log in to unmask]

IEC/23/Vol.23/KAC/SN (141)



July 31, 2000

Mr. Momodou K Ceesay
Secretary
The Democratic Forum
3659 Buford Highway G-10
Atlanta, Georgia 30329

Dear Momodou K Ceesay.

Re: Participation of Gambians Living Abroad in
National Elections.

The 1997 Constitution of the Second Republic of The
Gambia provides in section 39, the right to vote and
be registered.  Subsection (1) of the same section,
provides that:

Every citizen of the Gambia being eighteen years or
older and of sound mind shall have the right to vote
for the purpose of elections of a President and
National Assembly, and shall be entitled to be
registered as a voter in National assembly
Constituency for that Purpose.

Registration of Gambians Living abroad is therefore,
the above provision, a fundamental right although
modalities have not been set to guarantee this right
to eligible Gambians living abroad.

Furthermore, the Independent Electoral Commission
(IEC) under its functions as provided in section 43
(1) (a) Shall be responsible to conduct and supervise
the registration of voters for all public elections
and the conduct and supervision of all public
elections and referenda.

In dealing with the registration of voters, the
Election Decree of 1996 mandates the Provisional
Independent Electoral Commission (acting as though the
Independent Electoral Commission was exercising the
registration of voters, (see schedule II and schedule
III (2) of section 232- Transitional and Consequential
Provisions) to prepare, compile and maintain in
accordance with this part (Part III- Registration of
Voters) a register of voters for each constituency and
register of Gambians in foreign countries.

In addition section 141 of the Elections Decree, 1996
provides that the Independent Electoral Commission may
make rules for Gambians in any foreign country to vote
in a Presidential election.

The issue of registration of Gambian national resident
in foreign countries in view to extending the right to
participate in national elections in the Gambia has
been taken up in the National Governance Policy
Framework, the National Good Governance Program and a
subsequent National Roundtable Conference, which aimed
at looking for funding to cater for this
constitutional requirement. Meanwhile efforts are
being geared towards the realization of this exercise
and the IEC is happy to announce that a number of
international bodies, agencies and governments have
made pledges to support the project, Which is yet to
be formulated.

If the project materializes, IEC shall be sending its
officials abroad to some selected countries where the
density of Gambian nationals meets the criteria, to
study the modalities and conditions of registration of
Gambians as voters, which will enable them to express
their voice in the choice of the country’s leadership.

It is the commission’s hope that during the next
Presidential elections scheduled for year 2001,
Gambians will be able, for the first time, to take
part in this important national exercise.


Yours sincerely,


K A Ceesay
Secretary/Administrator
For: Chairman

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html

----------------------------------------------------------------------------