Disinig MW 2017-01-24 Final English
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facili�es for them to get involved as voters in their home country is a challenge that’s posed Facilita�ng the for the representa�ve democracy. On the other hand, the chief source of income not only in Sri Lanka but also in many other South Asian vo�ng rights countries, largely comprises of the foreign revenue generated by the female individuals of Out of the who serve in middle eastern countries. Managing the services of such expatriates and recognizing the value of the revenue that they Country Voters generate for its worth, is the duty and responsibility of a government. In that regard, the countries like Philippines adop�ng measures like signing bilateral agreements in regards to with visual impairments with ballot papers in Braille Facilita�ng the Vo�ng Rights of Out of the the services offered by their ci�zens in other during all the elec�ons in the future. One of the countries, can be iden�fied as a praiseworthy Country Voters primary mo�os of the Elec�on Commission of Sri measure. Yet however, in the Sri Lankan context, a consistent policy could not be observed to At present we are in the ninth decade since universal Lanka is “An Electoral Process where No Elector is to suffrage was introduced to Sri Lanka. The said advent be Le� Behind”. have been adopted by the duty bearers. has undoubtedly been able to steer the socio-poli�cal paradigm towards a new dimension. Regardless, upon Vo�ng Rights of the Sri Lankan Migrant Workers closely examining the balance sheet of representa�ve democracy in Sri Lanka, one could comprehend that As a ma�er of fact, the number of migrant workers there are two dis�nct problema�c areas which have from Sri Lanka that amounts to over two million not yet been properly addressed thus far. persons, whose votes are not counted in every 1. Lack of facilita�on for the persons with elec�on due to their being away from the country disabili�es to exercise their right to vote. could not be regarded as a trivial omission in terms of facilita�on of their rights in determining their 2. Lack of facilita�on for the migrant workers to choice in the poli�cal decision making process. Upon exercise their right to vote. taking the emerging global trends into account, one couldn’t escape no�cing the fact that a large number The number of Sri Lankan ci�zens who are thus of people all over the world are migra�ng by both deprived of the opportunity to cast there votes, is legal and illegal means in search of employment approximated as three million people. At a glance such prospects in developed countries. Subsequently, a a number of poten�al voters can be observed as a significant number of diasporas which consist of significant propor�on that can considerably influence migrants who are eager to play their role in the the final result of just about any elec�on. decision making process in their respec�ve motherlands, are being emerged in many developed Yet however, it is not fair to consider both these countries. The Sinhalese persons working in populaces as persons who have been deprived of their countries like Australia and the Sri Lankan Tamils right to vote. The reason for such a conclusion is that employed and residing in Canada can be regarded as the adequate flexibility is available in the enumera�on apt instances concerning this trend. The majority of process that’s conducted annually with regard to the these migrant workers are either under the voter registra�on by the Elec�on Commission of Sri temporary visa or have obtained dual ci�zenship. Lanka on the grounds of having disabili�es, living Although they could contribute to the decision overseas, temporarily away from home.Although the making process as poli�cal ac�vists, the lack of people have thus been availed of their rights, the issue that’s in focus is the fact that the necessary steps have not yet been taken to ensure that such people are properly facilitated to cast their votes sans any difficulty. It must be stated with immense gra�tude and apprecia�on that the Elec�on Commission of Sri Lanka has taken a number of very progressive measures with regard to addressing one of the aforemen�oned key issues at present. Asser�ng the Vo�ng Rights of the Persons with Disabili�es This process includes a range of facili�es star�ng from the establishing of model polling sta�ons for all persons with disabili�es up to the extent of availing the persons Facilitating the voting rights of Out of the Country Voters 01 employed as house maids and domes�c workers, a cumbersome procedure is involved which consists of facili�es for them to get involved as voters in Departures for Foreign Employment seeking the approval of their masters, travelling a long way to the embassies for the voter registra�ons as well their home country is a challenge that’s posed by Age Group and Gender 2014 as for vo�ng. for the representa�ve democracy. On the other hand, the chief source of income not only in Sri 9,748 >=50 10,526 Postal vo�ng: Under this methodology, ballots are mailed out to registered out-of-country voters and need Lanka but also in many other South Asian 18,123 45-49 12,599 20,974 40-44 18,694 tobe completed and returned by mail for coun�ng. They can be returned to collec�on points inhost countries countries, largely comprises of the foreign 21,307 35-39 25,288 22,135 30-34 or directly back to the country. Yet when the situa�on of the secretory of the ministry of postal services was 35,361 revenue generated by the female individuals 16,976 25-29 35,377 transferred to another ministry by the Elec�on Commissioner back then owing to the revela�on of 8,185 20-24 32,016 110,489 610 <=19 5,226 189,924 who serve in middle eastern countries. 36.78% Female Age Male 63.22% par�ali�es towards certain poli�cal par�es, is taken into considera�on, doubts can possibly arise in regards Managing the services of such expatriates and 300,413 to the security and reliability of involving postal service for such a sensi�ve and responsible affaire like vo�ng recognizing the value of the revenue that they Jana at an elec�on. 8,284 generate for its worth, is the duty and 472 7,812 responsibility of a government. In that regard, Internet vo�ng: Internet vo�ng is one of the novel methods that addresses many of the complexi�es involved the countries like Philippines adop�ng measures in vo�ng that takes place in physical form. The technological advancement in this regard is s�ll at the earlier Kilinochchi 85 447 stage and hence this system is not recommended to be adopted in a na�onal level elec�on without proper like signing bilateral agreements in regards to 532 Mullative *Not Identied methods of security and voter iden�fica�on in place. Upon looking at the Internet security compromises the services offered by their ci�zens in other 11 11 238 countries, can be iden�fied as a praiseworthy which were reported lately even in the countries like the United States where the most advance technological Vavuniya means are available to accomplish such a task, there could be a certain level of reluctance to deploy such measure. Yet however, in the Sri Lankan context, Mannar 2,591 1,201 85 systems in countries like Sri Lanka. In addi�on, the method of fax-based vo�ng which was implemented with a consistent policy could not be observed to 368 447 have been adopted by the duty bearers. 833 regard to the expatriate workers in countries like new Zeeland and Australia as of late can also be considered 12,479 in this regard. Anuradhapura Trincomalee 8,314 5,481 6,998 Proxy vo�ng: This system employs a proxy who resides in one’s home country that’s chosen by the registered Interna�onal Context 4,903 3,411 Puttalam out of country voter to cast the vote on his or her behalf. Many countries seem to have not placed much faith 21,867 Polonnaruwa 9,922 in this system and hence it could be concluded that such a system will not be suitable for a country like Sri As a ma�er of fact, the number of migrant workers One of the proposals made in the Na�onal 11,945 7,063 3,887 3,176 23,603 Lanka apparently. from Sri Lanka that amounts to over two million Batticaloa Migra�on Policy that was adopted in the year 4,829 Kurunegala Matale 18,774 Prior to considering any of the aforemen�oned persons, whose votes are not counted in every 2008 in alignment with the relevant 27,967 7,842 13,783 14,184 3,463 methods proposed to conduct out of country vo�ng, it elec�on due to their being away from the country 4,379 interna�onal trea�es, is to ensure the vo�ng is important that the reforms be brought forth for the could not be regarded as a trivial omission in terms rights of the Sri Lankan migrant workers. 28,850 Kandy Ampara 11,324 17,526 20,389 exis�ng legal provisions related to the electoral Gampaha of facilita�on of their rights in determining their 2,953 However it must be stated that facilita�ng the 28,548 Kegalle 17,436 process.