According to CNE spokesman Lucas Quilundo, the measure, deliberated this Wednesday by the plenary of the organ, after an extraordinary meeting, covers all Angolans residing in Angola and abroad as it is a question of a "sublime right" of all citizens.
"The plenary of the CNE, having evaluated all the nuances and weighing all the circumstances, as well as as a result of an interpretative exercise of the norm of article 100 of the Organic Law on General Elections, deliberated for the permission that the voters who are holders of BI expired as well as those who are holders of a copy of BI accompanied by the receipt of renewal of the BI can also exercise their right to vote", said the spokesperson for the CNE.
According to Lucas Quilundo, who was speaking at the second briefing of the day, seven hours after the start of voting in Angola and abroad, the deliberation arises because the Organic Law on General Elections only refers to the validity of the BI for citizens within the country.
But the same, he explained, "is no longer the case with regard to voting citizens abroad, so the requirement of a valid ID card is not present among the documents that are imposed for the voting of citizen voters".
"Being certain that the election is the same and the right to suffrage is a universal political right, elections are characterized by being a sublime moment" and the "exercise of popular sovereignty", he pointed out.
In this way, he continued, "it would not be correct that, by means of a rule of infraconstitutional legislation, limiting the exercise of this fundamental right, including creating differentiated opportunities for citizens, which is why the plenary deliberated for this permission".
Voting in Angola, for the choice of the new President and members of the National Assembly, officially started at 7:00 am with the opening of all assemblies spread across the 18 provinces of the country and abroad.
The CNE spokesperson explained that the delay in the second press release, initially announced at 12:00 pm, was due to the extraordinary plenary meeting of the electoral body, which approved the resolution.
The journalists present at the Aníbal de Melo Press Center, in the center of the capital, were not allowed to ask questions.
Lucas Quilundo also reiterated that the voting process takes place in an atmosphere of "calm, tranquility and serenity" of the voters, "without situations capable of disturbing the process", encouraging the civic atmosphere of citizens and voting agents.
"We once again appeal to citizens who have already cast their vote to avoid crowding in assemblies, because they can generate situations that can jeopardize the orderly and peaceful process that has taken place so far", he observed, in an approach contrary to the movement " Voted, Sat."
