By Frank Kamuntu
The Electoral Commission has released new updates in regards to the ongoing verification and update of the National Voters’ register across the country.
The updates were released on Tuesday by the EC Chairperson Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, at the Commission’s headquarters in Kampala,in which he re-echoed the need for all Ugandans to use the given time table to update their votability.
The General Update of the National Voters’ Register started Thursday 21st November and will end Wednesday 11th December 2019.
In accordance with Article 61 (1)(e) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda (as amended), and Sections 18 and 19 of the Electoral Commission Act (Cap 140), the Electoral Commission is conducting a General Update of the National Voters’ Register, in preparation for the 2020-2021 General Elections.
The General Update of the National Voters’ Register is being conducted at update stations as shall be publicised for each parish throughout Uganda, from Thursday 21st November 2019 to Wednesday 11th December 2019, starting from 8:00am to 6:00pm, on each of the appointed dates, including weekends.
The public is urged to carefully note the following activities which will be undertaken during this General Update exercise:
a) Registration of Citizens who are eligible to vote
i) During the General Update exercise, the Electoral Commission will register eligible Ugandan citizens of 18 years and above, who are not yet registered as voters.
ii) The update exercise will be a self-reporting exercise in which a person intending to register as a voter will turn up in person at an update centre in order to provide his/her personal details, photograph, signature and finger prints.
iii) An eligible person who wishes to register as a voter will be able to do so at any of the update centres countrywide where a registration kit will be stationed.
iv) A person who is already registered as a voter anywhere in Uganda must not
register again.
b) Application for Transfer of Voting Location
i) During the update exercise, registered voters who wish to transfer to new voting locations will be able to apply for such transfer.
ii) A voter who wishes to transfer to a new voting location must present confirmation that he/she originates from or is, at the time of application for transfer, a resident of the Parish of that (new) voting location. Such applicants should ensure they have details of their previous voting location.
iii) A person who wishes to apply for transfer of his or her voting location is
free to present himself/herself at any of the update centres where a registration kit will be stationed.
c) Confirmation of Registration Particulars
i) The update exercise will also enable registered voters to check and confirm that their particulars are on the Register at voting locations which they indicated during registration.
ii) The exercise will further enable registered voters to confirm accuracy of their particulars on the Voters Register, and correct any error(s) that may be identified in their particulars on the Register.
iii) To facilitate this confirmation, the Commission will display at each update station, the Register of each polling station within the respective Parish/Ward.
iv) For purpose of clarity, voters may only make necessary correction in regard to spelling mistakes, gender and a mismatch of photograph, as the case may be.
v) Registered voters will not be able to make changes to their age/date of birth, or include (new) additional names.
d) Update of Learners’ Information for Purposes of Voting
i) During this exercise, the details of learners who were registered under the Learners Project in 2017 and have since attained the age of 18 years will be updated and assigned a polling station within their parish of residence or origin.
ii) Accordingly, such eligible learners must not register afresh but are advised to present themselves at the registration/update centre with their National Identification Number (NIN) in order to specify their preferred polling stations for purposes of voting.
e) Update of Registers of Special Interest Groups
During this exercise, the Electoral Commission will also compile and update the following Voters’ Registers:
i) The National Youths Voters’ Register for election of Youth Councils and Committees;
ii) The Workers’ Voters’ Register for election of Representatives to Parliament;
iii) The National PWDs Voters’ Register for election of PWD Councils and Committees;
iv) The National Older Persons Voters’ Register for election of Older Persons Councils and Committees.
f) Cut-off Date for Registration of Voters and Application for Transfer of Voting Location
i) The Electoral Commission has appointed Wednesday 11th December 2019, as the cut-off date for registration of voters in Uganda.
ii) Registration and transfer of voters from one polling station to another within Uganda will not be conducted after this date.
The Electoral Commission appeals to all stakeholders in the electoral process to support the General Update exercise through enthusiastic participation, and in accordance with the guidelines which have been issued for this exercise.
