10 July 2017

Campaign Period Proceeding as Preparations are made for Parliamentary Election Day in East Timor

Minister of State and of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and

Official Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste

 Dili, July 10th, 2017

Campaign Period Proceeding as Preparations are made for Election Day  

The official campaign period for Timor-Leste’s parliamentary election has now entered its final week and the National Electoral Commission [CNE], the Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration [STAE], the Ministry of State Administration and Ministry of the Interior continue work in their respective roles to ensure that all is in place for a calm and orderly election.

Voters will head to the polls on the 22nd of July. The official campaign period, which began on the 20th of June, ends on the 19th of July. Twenty parties and one coalition are vying for their place in the 65-seat National Parliament.

A total of 760,907 voters are registered and 1,118 polling stations in 843 polling centres will be ready to facilitate their vote. The STAE have developed an online map to show the position of polling centres. Following a successful pilot program during the Presidential Election polling stations will be open in Australia [Sydney, Melbourne and Darwin], Portugal [Lisbon], South Korea [Seoul] and the UK [London].

Accredited international electoral observers, whose participation is welcomed by the Government, are arriving in Timor-Leste in significant numbers. The European Union has already installed 13 teams across the national territory. Following the Presidential Elections in May the EU Observation Mission “concluded that the election was well-run and peaceful, commending the electoral authorities for delivering a well-administered and inclusive process”.

The STAE continue to roll out their public information campaign to call on all registered voters to participate. Specific materials have been developed to encourage and inform young voters, women and people with disabilities.

Government Spokesperson, Minister of State Agio Pereira, noted “the election process and preparations are ‘on track’ as we approach voting day, when with dignity we will exercise our rights, won at great cost, as a free and democratic Nation. ”ENDS

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