The head of the Central Electoral Commission (JCE) has emphatically restated his concerns about the newly-created province of Santo Domingo. Doctor Manual Ramón Morel Cerda said yesterday it is impossible for the JCE to apply the new law to next year’s elections because other legislation and technical issues will prevent it. Therefore, he said, the JCE can’t include the four new municipalities in the 2002 vote. “The position of the JCE continues the same, that article 18 of the Electoral Registration law #55 is very clear on the matter,” he emphasized. Article 18 says the divisions and demarcations cannot be modified unless it is done one year before the elections. The next elections are slated for May 16, 2002. The new law creating the province of Santo Domingo was approved by the Senate on October 2 and was passed by President Mejía on Tuesday. Morel Cerda had warned earlier that if the law was passed, it would wipe out all the work that had already been done towards a successful election.
