UN Member States to vote in allocated time slots in three crucial elections next week

In herence to social distancing guidelines due to COVID-19 pandemic, 193 UN member states have been allotted different time slots to cast ir ballots next week in General Assembly Hall for three crucial elections, including n-permanent members of Security Council for which India is a candidate.

General Assembly President Tijjani Muhamm-Bande has informed member states that election of his successor, President of 75th session of UN General Assembly, election of n-permanent members of Security Council and election of members of Ecomic and Social Council will be held simultaneously on June 17 from 9:00 am in General Assembly Hall.

Eight time slots have been allocated to Member States to cast ir ballots in General Assembly Hall starting at 9 am, in herence to social distancing guidelines.  voting will continue till 1pm with an ditional 30-minute time slot for voters who are unable to visit GA hall during specific time slot communicated to m.

time slot for India to cast its ballot is 11:30 am-12on. Muhamm-Bande will oversee proceedings in General Assembly Hall and tellers will also be observing whole process. A letter will be circulated to all Member States at least one working day prior to round of secret balloting for elections to tify m of names of candidates for elections, communicated to UN Secretariat at least 48 hours prior to elections.

special voting arrangements have been as large in-person meetings at UN Hequarters remain suspended due to COVID-19 related restrictions. India is a candidate for a n-permanent seat from Asia-Pacific category for 2021-22 term. Its victory is a given since it is sole candidate vying for lone seat from grouping. New Delhi's candidature was unanimously endorsed by 55-member Asia-Pacific grouping, including China and Pakistan, in June last year.

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. PTI YAS RS RS