NEC headquarters in Tonle Bassac commune in Chamkarmon in January. Heng Chivoan
The National Election Committee (NEC) will broadcast a programme to educate the public about the upcoming commune council elections. The programme will appear on FM radios across the country and on the National Television of Cambodia (TVK) for 35 days from April 30 through June 3.
In this voter education programme (VEP), municipal and provincial election commission officials will act as speakers and will answer questions from audiences for one hour a day.
In an April 25 press release, the NEC said the VEP was an opportunity for the public and all relevant parties to learn about the process. Their questions will be answered and it will prepare everyone to cast their ballots on Sunday, June 5.
“We established the VEP in order to raise public awareness throughout the country about the importance of elections,” the press release said.
NEC spokesman Som Sorida said on April 26 that previous VEPs were well organised and successful, and had drawn wide praise in 2016, 2017 and 2018. The programmes were a useful tool for new voters to learn about their rights and responsibilities.
“We use the means of radios and TVs in the capital and provinces because it is a simple and easy way to reach the majority of the population,” he said.
FUNCINPEC party spokesman Nhoeun Raden said on April 26 that the VEP will be broadcast across the country and that it was important for people who are eligible to vote to learn about their obligations to elect their commune leaders.
“I think these broadcasts will make people more aware, and give them an understanding of the obligations and duties they have as citizens to elect good representatives for their communes,” he said.
The NEC on April 26 agreed in principle on some documents for public broadcast and for implementation of the selection of the compositions of the polling station commissions that will serve in the elections.
The documents included leaflets on the commune elections; notification of the selection of commissions for polling stations; notification of conditions of selection and duties of the commissions; educational video spots on the procedure of the elections and the counting of the ballots; notification of the elections; and posters for the political parties that are standing in the elections.
