Presidential Election in Mongolia

The General Election Committee officially announced the start of Mongolia’s 5th Presidential Election campaign on March 25, 2009. Voting for the Presidential Election is scheduled for Sunday, May 24 and political parties with seats in Parliament are to nominate candidates before April 4 to enable the GEC to complete the registration of candidates by April 8.

The GEC confirmed that preparations for the Election are being satisfied as stated in the law. There is a wariness that the Election result can be delayed as per the current practice that a court decision related to the election dispute, be awaited remaining a seat vacant in Parliament. The GEC Secretary Ch. Sodnomtseren said, “Any election-related disputes will be resolved according to the relevant legal clause specifying resolution within 7 days during that stage.” GEC Chairman N. Luvsanjav said, “It is not denied that it may become necessary to wait for resolution by a legal organization.”

The GEC has requested explanations from the Supreme Court on some uncertain and/or unclear clauses in the laws on Presidential Elections and Central Election Organizations. For instance, an explanation has been requested on a clause stating that, ‘Where voting has not been conducted legally, the election will be invalidated’ and is awaiting a response on how to recognize whether or not the election has been conducted legally. The GEC, in collaboration with the National Center for Civil Registration and Information, has set up a working group to estimate the real number of voters preventing disputes in regard to the voters’ name-list during elections. The GEC believes that, as voters enjoy rights as citizens to control the voters’ name-list, breaches can be revealed and plans to publicize this aspect.

Mongol Messenger