The General Election Committee (GEC), along with provincial and capital election committees, is hosting “Voters' Day” on weekends. This initiative aims to educate voters about election laws, provide updates on the 2024 regular election process for the Mongolian parliament, and introduce the ballot paper model and vote-counting devices.
At Victory Square, a model polling house has been set up by the GEC. Here, citizens received instructions on how to mark their ballots and learn about the operation of vote-counting machines. In addition, informational brochures are distributed to enhance voters' electoral knowledge. During "Voters' Day" some citizens voiced concerns about the vote-counting machines. In response, officials emphasized the importance of clearly explaining the ballot marking process. GEC, along with the provincial and capital election committees, will continue to organize “Voters' Day” events on upcoming weekends.
Election candidate registration finalized
At a meeting held on May 30, GEC deliberated and made decisions regarding candidate registrations for the upcoming 2024 regular election of the parliament. A total of 19 parties and two coalitions submitted documents for 985 constituency nominations, 385 list nominations, and 46 independent nominations, amounting to 1,416 candidates in total. The committee reviewed these submissions thoroughly. The committee also processed withdrawal requests from 17 candidates and returned the relevant documents to them.
In the lead-up to the 2024 elections for the parliament, GEC has denied registration for a significant number of candidates from various political parties and coalitions. In its final decision, GEC registered 1,245 candidates for the forthcoming elections. This includes 1,206 candidates nominated by parties and coalitions and 39 independent candidates, but 154 candidates were denied registration due to not meeting the necessary requirements. Among those denied registration, three candidates were from the ruling Mongolian People's Party (MPP), one from the opposition Democratic Party (DP), six from the “National Coalition”, and ten from the HUN Party. The largest number of refusals, however, came from the Party for Mongolians, with 26 candidates being denied registration.
The reasons for refusal included: 76 candidates with overdue tax liabilities, 63 candidates missing required legal documents, five candidates currently serving a sentence according to a valid court decision, four candidates belonging to parties other than the nominating party or coalition, four candidates who failed to gather signatures from at least 801 voters in their electoral district, one full-time civil servant who had not resigned within the legal timeframe, and one candidate found by the court to have committed corruption or an official crime. According to Article 33.2 of the Law on Elections of the Parliament, the denied candidates have until June 2 to address the issues and resubmit their documents for reconsideration. To facilitate this process, GEC has coordinated with relevant institutions to ensure these processes can be completed, even during public holidays, to meet the legal deadlines.
Regarding the GEC’s vetting process, D.Bat-Erdene, Head of the Office of the GEC, elaborated on the criteria and process for candidate registration. He stated, “One of the special requirements for candidates is their involvement in corruption or official crimes, with court convictions as a key factor. The Information Fund Unit of the General Police Agency conducts inquiries on these matters”.
According to the database inquiry conducted by the responsible unit, N.Nomtoibayar, head of the National Coalition, had a crime of this nature registered. D.Bat-Erdene emphasized that GEC does not have the authority to determine a person's legal status. Instead, they rely on information from various authoritative bodies. “If there is a tax debt, the General Department of Taxation issues the inquiry. The Supreme Court provides information on whether a crime has been committed or if the individual is serving a sentence”, D.Bat-Erdene explained. “The GEC makes its decisions based on these submissions”, he added.
J.Bayasgalan, a candidate from the DP, has been refused nomination by GEC for the upcoming parliamentary election due to overdue taxes and debts. J.Bayasgalan was ranked seventh on the list of representatives for disabled people. Refused candidate can reapply if he pays his tax debt and submits the missing materials before the deadline.
The decision highlights the GEC's vetting process to ensure compliance with election laws and candidate requirements. Before its legal deadline, all candidates are encouraged to address any outstanding issues promptly to ensure their eligibility.
