In a letter by its chairman, Dr. Abel Guobadia, the commission forwarded to the upper House 130 copies of the proposed draft Electoral bill 2004, which it said was the products of stakesholders' workshop and a comprehensive review by experts and two international organisations.

Guobadia's letter dated December 13, 2004 reads: "Please recall that after the conclusion of the 2003 general elections, the commission undertook an in-house appraisal of the entire process through stakeholders workshops and comprehensive review by a team of experts sponsored by the Commonwealth Secretariat, the International Foundation for Election System (IFES) and the United Nations Electoral Assistance Division (UNEAD).

"Following the appraisal, there was a general consensus on the need to review the present Electoral Act 2002 (as amended) to take care of most of the short comings noticed during the 2003 general elections.

"After due consideration of the various suggestions made by the stakeholders, the Commission has proposed a draft Electoral Bill, 2004.

"Some of the highlights of the proposed draft bill include;

a consolidation of the INEC Act No. 17 of 1998, INEC Amendment Act N. 33 of 1998, the Electoral Act 2002 and the Electoral Act (Amendment) Act, 2004;
The establishment of a National Elections Fund;

a general election schedule with a deadline for the termination of the submission of nomination that leaves the commission with sufficient time to make adequate arrangements for the elections including the printing of ballot papers which bear the photographs and names of candidates at the elections;

expanding the powers of the commission for more effective monitoring of political parties' finances;

increased sanctions for electoral malpractices and fraud;
empowering the commission to introduce enhanced or technologically advanced voting systems, and

the placement of a ceiling on the level of election expenses that may be incurred by candidates contesting elections.