and topography. In conjunction, the polling stations should be distributed so as to guarantee equal access within each constituency.14 In relation thereto, the Commission is of the view that any proposed redelineation exercise by EC should not dilute or increase the electors of a particular candidate or party in light of international norm of equality of suffrage. In this respect, the Commission urges that the principle of democracy enunciated in the Federal Constitution, Article 21 of the UDHR and Article 25 of ICCPR be respected and given due consideration in the delineation of the constituencies. The Commission also echoed the recommendations made by the Special Committee on Electoral Reforms which call EC to review the 13th Schedule of the Federal Constitution to give full meaning to the principle of ‘One Person, One Vote’ and if necessary, restore the rural weightage. The Committee also recommended that EC determine a fair and equitable formula based on a fixed principle in determining the number of electors in a constituency to ensure that there are no huge disparities among other areas in the state. ii) Ensure Meaningful Consultations with the Public during the Redelineation Exercise The Commission was made to understand that meaningful consultations held by EC with the public with regard to the proposed redelineation were lacking. Even though Part II of the 13th Schedule stated that it would be sufficient for EC to publish the proposed redelineation in at least one newspaper circulating in the constituency15, the Commission 14 Source from: A Handbook on the Legal, Technical and Human Rights Aspect of Elections, pg. 15 15 Where the Election Commission have provisionally determined to make recommendations under Clause (2) of Article 113 affecting any constituency, they shall inform the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Prime Minister accordingly, and shall publish in the Gazette and in at least one newspaper circulating in the constituency a notice stating— (a) the effect of their proposed recommendations, and (except in a case where they propose to recommend that no alteration be made in respect of the constituency) that a copy of their recommendations is open to inspection at a specified place within the constituency; and (b) that representations with respect to the proposed recommendations may be made to the Commission within one month after the publication of such notice, and the Commission shall take into consideration any representations duly made in accordance with any such notice. 48 S UH A KA M A N N UA L R E P O R T 2 0 1 7