In a report on the state of the mobile voter registration process, ERC is concerned that the Registrar General’s outreach teams is yet to visit some districts, over a week after the commencement of the exercise.
“In places which the mobile registration teams have visited a number of potential voters remain disenfranchised due to a myriad of challenges ranging from lack of publicity, inadequate time allocation, the cost of registration, limited civil registration services and difficulties in acquiring necessary documents like proof of residence.
“The lack of a sufficient information drive and publicity around the process means that it has the potential of being shadowy to potential voters intending to register as voters,” read the report.
ERC noted that some areas with a high contribution to the national population have fewer mobile registration centers than others.
“ The ERC therefore calls upon the electoral authorities to immediately attend to the emerging challenges in order to enable all interested eligible voters to either register as such or inspect details of their registration in the country`s voter register,” said the election watchdog.
ERC said that fewer registration teams were deployed on the date of the commencement of the mobile voter registration process “with the majority of districts reportedly starting on days later than the official date”.
The organisation added that, in some areas, the mobile voter registration teams are being overwhelmed with work amid reports that in certain cases, they are serving up to three wards.
The ERC said that in some instances, police are frustrating the mobile voter registration process.
“We have received reports that for instance, the police in some areas are not issuing out police reports to potential first time voter registrants that facilitates one to get an ID for free.
“It seems the police are not aware of this government directive as reports of police in some areas refusing or not issuing out police reports to those who need them are being received,” read the report.
The report stated that the mobile voter registration teams are not providing some services which are important for one to register.
“For instance, the teams are not issuing out birth certificates which are a requisite for one to obtain an ID, itself a requirement for one to register as a voter,” read the report.
ERC aims to promote participation and accountability in electoral democracy.
Post published in: News