Residents who are not legally recognized by local authorities, such as students temporarily in a city or homeless people, will not be able to participate in the upcoming commune elections, said Im Suosdey, secretary-general of the National Election Committee.
“If the local authority doesn’t recognize them, they don’t have the right to vote,” he said at a weekend workshop to train election observers.
And while Cambodians from southern Vietnam are recognized as having Cambodian nationality, those who have moved to a new residence in Cambodia must have the local authority certify their address so they can register.
Obtaining accurate address records are just one of the many problems plaguing the NEC, which is in charge of organizing the country’s first local elections.
“Commune election laws are more specific and narrow than the national election laws,” said Huoy Sophorn, NEC deputy secretary general.
Another problem is ID cards, which are required unless the voter can produce two witnesses to vouch for him or her. “Many Khmers don’t have ID cards because they cost so much money,” said Nop Norin, a student.
Some precautions have been taken, such as code numbers for each commune on the ballot and open booths to ensure that ballots are not taken outside the booths. Observers can also follow the officials that deliver ballots.
“There are too many tricks that can be played in Cambodia,” Im Suosdey said. “So we need more techniques.”
Im Suosdey spoke to 100 students from more than 60 NGOs at the workshop, and appealed to them to be thorough. “Please investigate and evaluate our officials if they are corrupt. We can’t control all of our 80,000 staff members,” he said.
Im Suosdey also said they still need $8 million for the elections. Although the UN Development Program has promised to give $15 million, but “we are still waiting for the money,” he said.
