EC officials seek magistracy powers in elections

Election Commission officials have proposed obtaining magistracy powers to conduct free, fair, and impartial elections.

In a set of recommendations submitted to the Electoral Reform Commission, EC officials emphasised the need for such powers to uphold the electoral code of conduct and establish a level playing field for all candidates.

The officials argue that magisterial authority would allow them to take immediate action against violations of the code, a critical step given that past experiences have shown the EC's limited ability to enforce compliance.

This gap, they noted, has often led to a loss of trust among political parties and candidates.

The proposal explains that EC officials, despite witnessing code violations firsthand, currently lack the legal authority to respond swiftly.

This limitation, according to EC officials, can create the perception that the commission is intentionally avoiding disciplinary measures, damaging the EC's credibility.

To address this, EC officials recommend that electoral magistracy be granted to commission officers, empowering them to act promptly on any code violations.

The officials also suggested that appointing the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or Chief Judicial Magistrate as an appellate authority would enable better oversight of the EC’s disciplinary actions.

The proposal argues that if EC officers are vested with magisterial powers alongside executive magistrates, it would improve election oversight and help create a fairer election environment.