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the power and mandate to “enact laws for the governance of [the]
Commission.” LIB. CONST., ART 89(B) (1986).
As a means of further ensuring that, although the Legislature had been
given the authority to enact the Elections Law, that Body is guided and that
the laws enacted by it reflect and manifest the broad will of the people, the
Constitution, at Articles 77 to 84 set out the broad framework of the electoral
process [from the definition and creation of political parties; to the eligibility
of voters and rights of voters; to the manner, periods and timeframe for
holding elections; to the hearing and appeal of electoral disputes, etc.] and
the perimeters of the laws enacted by the legislature so that they do not
transcend the permissible bounds of the statutory realm, as would infringed
upon the Constitution and the will of the people. As part of the broad
framework set for the conduct of public elections, the Constitution mandates
that elections “for the President, Vice-President, members of the Senate and
members of the House of Representatives shall be conducted throughout the
Republic on the second Tuesday in October of each election year.” LIB.
CONST., ART. 83(a) (1986).
Further, the Constitution, apparently for the purpose of further clarity,
and to minimize avenues for deviations or departures from the strict will of
the people, and to ensure a stern and firm adherence to the will of the people,
couched in various Articles in that sacred instrument, referenced herein,
expressly mandates the Legislature, in enacting the Elections Law, pursuant to
the mandate contained in Article 34(i), to “provide penalties for any violations
of the relevant provisions of this Chapter VIII of the Constitution which
specifically deals with political parties and elections], and shall enact laws and
regulations in furtherance thereof not later than 1986; provided that such
penalties, laws or regulations shall not be inconsistent with any provisions of
this Constitution.” LIB. CONST., ART. 84 (1986).
We should note that in furtherance of the constitutional mandate
granted the Legislature to enact the Elections Law, a New Elections Law was
enacted in 2006, and subsequently amended to reflect new and unfolding
developments in the country.