Al Mezan receives the Electoral Court's ruling regarding its appeal

Today, 18 January 2005, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights received the written ruling of the Palestinian Electoral Court regarding the appeal in which it requested cancellation of the Palestinian Central Elections Commission's (CEC) decision allowing citizens to vote without being enlisted in electoral registries in the Civil Registry Polling Centers .
Al Mezan brought the appeal before the court on 11 January 2005, two days after submitting it to the CEC, in accordance with the law.
The Court ruled that it accepts the Center's appeal but supports the CEC's decision.
The Court announced the oral ruling on 16 January 2004, after careful consideration of the Center's appeal and the defence of the CEC.
It was convened by Judge Fawzi Abu Watfa as president, and Judges Hasan Al Jadba and Ali Al Farra as members.
On 11 January 2005, the CEC addressed the Center and rejected its appeal, which challenges its decision regarding citizens' votes without consideration of the election registries in the Civil Registry Polling Centers, in violation of Article 15 of Palestinian Electoral Law 13/1995, and its amendment 4/2004.
The decision, which was announced about four hours before the close of polling, caused serious chaos in the Civil Registry Polling Centers allowing for further serious breaches of the law.
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights commends the stand of the CEC employees who expressed their concern about the CEC's decisions regarding the extension of the voting time by two hours and the change of rules in the Civil Registry Polling Centers.
We respect these employees demand to protect their independence in accordance with the law.
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