Voter registration, a key component of an election process
Last Updated on Wednesday, 25 April 2012 16:13 Written by Administrator Wednesday, 25 April 2012 15:13
Periodic, free and fair elections are the hallmark of any democracy. Elections provide an opportunity for citizens to decide who governs them.
Article 2 of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance highlights the need for states to ‘Promote the holding of regular free and fair elections to institutionalize legitimate authority of representative government as well as democratic change of governments...’
Voter registration is a key component of the electoral process. It is thus critical for any well meaning government to create conditions which promote voter registration. According to the Zimbabwe Electoral Act, "Voter registration shall be conducted on a continuous basis so as to keep the voters rolls up-to-date." However, according to a research carried out by the Election Resource Centre (ERC) 2012, the Registrar General’s office, tasked with carrying out the voter registration process, is short changing citizens by failing to provide opportunities for civilians to register to vote.
The revelations come against the background of continued calls by some elements within the inclusive government for early elections despite concerns around the preparedness of the country to undertake another election. The revelations also come against the reality of the expiration of the terms of office of the current Members of Parliament in 2013. The Registrar General’s office and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), which is tasked with oversight of the elections have a duty and an obligation to ensure that the dream of universal adult suffrage is realised by creating conditions which enable Zimbabweans to register as a first step towards casting their votes and defining their destiny. ERC identified the following as hindrances to voter registration;
‘Closed registration centres- Some registration centres like Hatfield are apparently closed with the officials unsatisfactorily giving reasons to the effect that the process of registering voters is yet to commence.
Limited time for registration -There are inconsistencies in the provision of voter registration services with most registration centres allocating an average of 4 hours for the process of registering voters. This usually results in frustrating of potential registrants as they often are forced to wait for long hours as the registration officials prioritize registration related to birth certificates, national I.D.s and death certificates. Consequently, the voter registration exercise is treated as a peripheral issue in the centres so visited.
Registration by coercion-There is an emerging pattern of vote buying fashioned through the sprouting housing cooperatives whereupon those responsible for allocating the pieces of land, who also happen to be known leaders of certain political parties demand that the intended beneficiaries be registered voters first before being allocated the residential stands. Such coercion apparently exposes potential voters to manipulation by certain functionaries of political parties as well potentially threatening the individuals’ freedom of choice and association.
Partisan Registration-The assessment also established that access to registration services is at times administered in a partisan manner with suspected supporters of some political parties and young people intending to register facing frustrating hurdles during their attempts to register as voters.
Inaccessible Registration Centres-Some centres are not located in easily accessible locations, discouraging potential registrants from enjoying their constitutional right as voters. For example, the registration centre in Mabvuku is obscurely located at a village known as Chizhanje, an area with poor road linkages worsened by lack of clear information highlighting the availability of voter registration services at the centre.
Unsuitably situated registration centres- The registration centre at Kuwadzana sub-office is inappropriately situated in juxtaposition with a ZANU PF office. Potential registrants prominently see a ZANU PF inscription on the building before realizing the existence of a registration centre. Such a location potentially discourages and inculcates fear on would-be registrants.’ (Excerpt from the report released by ERC)