Photo Voter Cards Registration Exercise Ready

The Electoral Commission is finally ready to implement the photographic voter registration and identification project, writes Okello Jabweli. A press statement issued by the commission yesterday, said nationwide fresh registration of voters is set for July and August. "During the registration period, eligible voters shall register afresh and have their photographs taken. The photos will appear on the new voter's card and on the register of their respective polling stations," the statement signed by commissioner, Charles Dickens Owiny, said. In its implementation work plan, the commission began the project with a training of trainers' programme from July 9 to 10. The training for field registration officials and photographers starts at sub-county headquarters nationwide for two weeks starting July 23. The statement said the photo project is aimed at allowing eligible voters register again to remove ghost voters from the national voters register. It also aims at collecting additional data on registered voters. It is also intended to ensure that no person votes in the names of another and to eliminate all non-eligible persons from the register. A source at the commission said the photo identification cards would be ready by the time of local council elections next year. President Yoweri Museveni mooted the project to curb electoral malpractices. The project was not implemented in time for the March 2001 presidential and June parliamentary elections. Ends