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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Commonwealth to observe Malawi voter registration

12 January 2004

A Commonwealth Expert Team will observe the final week of voter registration in Malawi from today. The Expert Team will comprise Mr Danville Walker, Director of Elections in Jamaica's Electoral Office, supported by Ms Charlene Lee Ling from the Political Affairs Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

The Team will be briefed by the Malawi Electoral Commission and will then visit voter registration centres throughout the country to observe the registration process. It will leave Malawi on 17 January after completing its report to the Commonwealth Secretary-General. Malawi is due to hold its General Election in May 2004.

Note to Editors

The Expert Team's Terms of Reference are as follows:

"Following an invitation to the Commonwealth Secretariat from the Chairman of the Malawi Electoral Commission to observe voter registration in Malawi, the Commonwealth Expert Team is to observe relevant aspects of the organisation and conduct of the voter registration process, in accordance with the laws of Malawi. They are to consider the various factors impinging on the credibility of this part of the electoral process and to determine in their own judgement whether it provides a sound basis for continued preparations for the General Election.

The Expert Team will act impartially and independently. It has no executive role; its function is not to supervise but to observe the process and to form a judgement accordingly. It will submit its report to the Commonwealth Secretary-General, who will in turn forward it to any Commonwealth Observer Group which will be present in Malawi for the General Election. The Secretary-General may also decide to draw any major matters of concern to the attention of the Government of Malawi, the Electoral Commission, and the leadership of the political parties taking part in the elections and, if necessary, Commonwealth governments."

Commonwealth Observers have previously been present at voter registration exercises in Swaziland (2003), Antigua and Barbuda (2003), Nigeria (2003), Lesotho (2002), and Sierra Leone (2002).

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ISSUED BY THE COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIVISION
Commonwealth Secretariat Marlborough House Pall Mall London SW1Y 5HX United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7747 6385/6 Fax: +44 (0)20 7839 9081
Email: info@commonwealth.int