Prior to the constitution order of 1978 the Electoral Department was basically a part time operation which was mobilised prior to calling an Election. In this context the majority of the staff was engaged on a temporary basis in the process of registration, verification and elections. Even the post of the Chief Elections Officer was held on a temporary basis.

 

Post 1979 the post of the Chief Elections Officer was now held on a fulltime basis. This together with the increase in scope of operations of the Electoral Department resulted in the process of Registration and Verification being seen as an ongoing activity instead of being limited to the period specified in the Act.

In this environment persons were now engaged for indeterminate periods, resulting in the appearance of some form of an organizational Structure for the Department.