CEC CHAIRMAN ON VOTER REGISTRATION, ELECTIONS, AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000424

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/PASCUAL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/07/2018
TAGS: KWBG PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KPAL IS
SUBJECT: CEC CHAIRMAN ON VOTER REGISTRATION, ELECTIONS, AND
BUDGET

Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary. Central Elections Commission (CEC) Chairman
Hanna Nasir told USAID and Poloff February 27 that the CEC
plans to launch a West Bank/Gaza voter registration drive in
one month. Nasir said he fears Hamas will block the Ministry
of Education from making Gaza schools available for voter
registration. Noting PA President Mahmoud Abbas' (Abu Mazen)
February 27 comments to the press about possible early
presidential and PLC elections, Nasir said the CEC is
prepared to conduct presidential elections 60 to 90 days
after they are called and PLC elections in 90 to 120 days.
He said the PA has not approved the CEC's three-year budget,
and noted that the Ministry of Planning cut the CEC's request
from USD 26 million to USD 16 million. End Summary.

Voter Registration Drive
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2. (C) Central Elections Commission (CEC) Chairman Hanna
Nasir and Chief Electoral Officer Hisham Kuhail told USAID
and Poloff on February 27 that the CEC plans to launch a
voter registration drive in the West Bank and Gaza in one
month. According to the 2007 Palestinian Central Bureau of
Statistics census, Nasir said, 82 percent of Palestinians in
the West Bank and 75 percent in Gaza are registered voters.
He recently discussed with Minister of Education Lamis
al-Alami his fear that Hamas will block the Ministry of
Education from making Gaza schools available for voter
registration. Nasir added that a registration drive in Gaza
would likely add 70,000 registered voters. He stressed that
the CEC does not want to favor the West Bank or Gaza. The
CEC must also maintain the perception among the Palestinian
public that it is an absolutely independent body, free from
government interference, he said.

Ready for Early Elections
--------------


3. (C) Noting PA President Mahmoud Abbas' (Abu Mazen)
February 27 comments to the press about possible early
presidential and PLC elections, Nasir said the CEC is
prepared to hold presidential elections within 60 to 90 days
and PLC elections within 90 to 120 days of their being
called. He emphasized that it is difficult for the CEC to be
"on stand-by."

Budget, Training, IT Upgrade
--------------


4. (C) Nasir said the PA has not yet approved the CEC's
three-year USD 26 million budget, which includes costs for
overhead and the organization of presidential, PLC, and
municipal elections. If presidential and PLC elections are
held simultaneously, Nasir said the budget will be USD 22
million. He noted that the Ministry of Planning cut the
request to USD 16 million in the Palestinian Reform
Development Plan.


5. (C) When an election date is set, Nasir said the CEC will
hold two days of voter registration training across 16
districts for approximately 5,000 people at the cost of USD
300,000. He said the CEC strives to maintain a pool of 2,500
people who are up-to-date in voter registration technology.
Nasir said the CEC is seeking USD 250,000 to update its
computer hardware and wants to hire four technical experts,
including a native English speaker.
WALLES