The National Election Committee said April 16 it was $2.3 million short of the $17 million it had budgeted to hold the national elections on July 27.

 

“We still have time and hope that the shortfall will not be an obstacle to holding the elections,” NEC secretary general Tep Nytha told the Post.

 

The government has agreed to provide $10 million towards the cost of the elections, with the remaining $7 million sought from international donors.

 

Nytha also said the NEC would accept registrations of political parties from April 28 to May 12, and parties would be allowed to campaign from June 26 to July 25.

 

The NEC announced earlier this month that political parties running in the election will have to deposit 15 million riel in the NEC’s account at the national treasury.

 

The money is to be returned to the party if it wins at least three percent of the national vote or a seat in the National Assembly.

 

The NEC has also released its official voter list, showing there are 8.12 million people eligible to cast votes this July.