Elections for five non-permanent members of UNSC next month; India assured of seat

UN General Assembly has decided to hold elections for five n-permanent members of Security Council next month under new voting arrangements due to COVID-19 restrictions, with India assured a win being sole contender for Asia Pacific seat.

193-member General Assembly opted decision on Friday titled 'Procedure for holding elections by secret ballot without a plenary meeting during coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic’.

According to decision, elections of n-permanent members to Security Council and election of members to Ecomic and Social Council will be held simultaneously in June 2020 without a plenary meeting.

election for five n-permanent members of 15-nation council for 2021-22 term was originally scheduled on June 17.

India is a candidate for a n-permanent seat and its victory is assured as it is sole candidate vying for lone seat from Asia Pacific grouping.

New Delhi's candidature was unanimously endorsed in June last year by 55 members of Asia-Pacific grouping, including China and Pakistan.

From India's perspective, any change in voting method will t impact its chances. term is to start in January 2021.

Tritionally, UNSC elections are held in General Assembly hall with each of 193 member states casting its vote in a secret ballot.

w, large in-person meetings at world body's hequarters stand postponed till end of June due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Under new voting arrangement, President of General Assembly Tijjani Muhamm-Bande will circulate a letter to all Member States at least 10 working days prior to first round of secret balloting, informing m of date on which elections will be held, number of vacant seats, venue where ballots may be cast and or logistical details.

On day of elections, voter will be required to visit designated venue during a specific time slot to cast its ballots.

Only ballots cast in ballot boxes at designated venues will be accepted and ballots would be accepted after last time slot has expired.

If total number of ballot papers cast in all ballot boxes do t amount to at least a majority of members of Assembly, President would circulate a letter to all Member States indicating a new date and time for elections.

General Assembly President will circulate a letter to all Member States informing m of results once voting is complete and ballots counted.

Cana, Ireland, and rway are vying for two seats in Western Europe and or countries category.

Mexico is only candidate for one Latin America and Caribbean seat and Kenya and Djibouti will contest seat available for African group.

Previously, India has been elected as a n-permanent member of Council for years 1950—1951, 1967—1968, 1972—1973, 1977—1978, 1984—1985, 1991—1992 and most recently in 2011—2012.

India has been at forefront of years-long efforts to reform Security Council, saying it rightly deserves a place as a permanent member of Council which in its current form does t represent geo-political realities of 21st Century.

Each year General Assembly elects five n-permanent members (out of 10 in total) for a two-year term.

10 n-permanent seats are distributed on a regional basis - five for African and Asian States; one for Eastern European States; two for Latin American and Caribbean States; and two for Western European and or States.

decision to hold UNSC elections was opted through a silence procedure, under which if Member State raises any objections to draft within a specified time period, president of General Assembly will circulate a letter confirming option of text.