Voter update on

UPDATE of the national voters' register is now in progress. This is an opportunity for all eligible voters to ensure that they are registered. Registration of voter is a crucial part of the election process. It must be handled carefully to ensure that no one is denied the right to vote. There were cases in previous elections where names were missing consequently disfranchising several. This should not happen again. The Electoral Commission must aim at creating a proper register that enhances the right to vote and checks against any malpractice. The dead should be deleted; those who have attained the voting age should be added. Cases of voters whose names appear several times should be identified and dealt with. The democratic principle dictates one -person -one vote, so it is wrong for a voter to register more than once. Doing so is an attempt to rig the ballot. Manual registers are difficult to manage, but given that there is about seven weeks to elections, all effort should concentrate on cleaning up the register by the end of January and displayed from mid-February. It is unfortunate the electronic registration could not be implemented it would have made the exercise easier and efficient. As registration goes on, it is imperative that civic education begins. All those involved in voter education should be on the ground emphasising the importance of registering. Otherwise it is meaningless to come in at a latter date after registration when some potential voters have missed registering due to ignorance. In the interim all presidential candidates should remind their supporters at rallies to ensure that they are registered. It is everyone's civic duty to vote. It is a constitutional right too, but only exercised if you are a registered voter. Ends.