The National Election Committee (NEC), political parties and NGOs are holding a July 6-7 meeting to review the June 5 commune council elections.
Five main topics have been tabled for discussion at the Preah Sihanouk meeting, and it is hoped they will offer lessons that will be used to improve next year’s national election and those in the future.
NEC spokesman Som Sorida said on July 6 that the topics included the annual checks of lists of names and registration, candidate registration, election campaigns, voting and vote counting, and addressing complaints in all phases of elections.
“As a result, we expect to receive input that we can use to improve next year’s election, and the 2027 commune council elections,” he said.
Sam Sokuntheamy, executive director of the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (NICFEC) who attended the meeting, said on July 6 that the discussions had gone smoothly in each group.
“We mentioned challenges and contributed ideas, for example, name registration and checks, what problems there are and how they can be improved,” he said.
Nop Phorn, deputy general-secretary in charge of elections of FUNCINPEC, said on July 6 that the party had discussed the complaints procedure, and had contributed ideas to improve elections in the future.
At the meeting, NEC vice-chairman Nuth Sokhom said that although the NEC had held the June 5 elections successfully, there was still room for improvement.
“While discussing these topics, on behalf of the NEC, I personally request that all attendees focus on mentioning main challenges. I also invite you to contribute ideas or make requests or recommendations,” he added.
Sokhom said the ideas and recommendations would be key inputs and that all participants were contributing to improving future elections.
