Why non-citizens will vote in LC polls
THE Electoral Commission (EC) is preparing to hold elections for LC1, LC2 and some LC3 Councillors. <b>Cyprian Musoke</b> asked EC chairman Dr Badru Kiggundu what exactly these elections are about.
THE Electoral Commission (EC) is preparing to hold elections for LC1, LC2 and some LC3 Councillors. Cyprian Musoke asked EC chairman Dr Badru Kiggundu what exactly these elections are about.
QUESTION: We have had quite a number of elections in the past few months. Now, which are these other elections you are preparing to hold?
ANSWER: We have a number of elections that are remaining. lWe have LC1 elections, along which elections for the youth and women at that level will be done. Registration of voters for that was conducted between June 16-20. We appealed to all residents in the 25, 000 villages plus across this country to register irrespective of whether one is a citizen or a non-citizen. This registration embodied both categories (citizens and non-citizens), and this was the law. It was not a creation of the Electoral Commission. We mean to make certain that the election is held on August 10.
Why did some LC3 Councillors remain unelected during the March polls?
Some technicalities associated with selection of symbols and their late submission. Candidates found out that the symbols they were campaigning under were not the ones allotted to them on ballot papers. And they couldn’t go to the polls because this would disadvantage them.
Why are we having these elections at this point in time?
We could not have conducted these elections at the same time as presidential, parliamentary, LC5 nor LC3 elections. First of all the register is different. It includes non-citizens. Secondly, the polling stations differ in number. In these we shall have polling stations at every meeting place of each village, meaning we have over 45,000 polling stations. So you couldn’t do that at the same time as other elections.
Why are we registering again? Can’t we use the register you used in March?
We cannot use the register we sued for presidential and parliamentary elections, neither can we use one for LC3 and LC5 elections because of the different undertakings. Variables differ. First, in the national registration the requirement for non-citizens is not there. Secondly, the other national register was pegged on 19,786 polling stations. So to pick and create for 45,000 polling stations from that register we have would be impossible. So it necessitates creation of another register, which is generic.
Shall we get new voters’ cards for these elections?
We have to be mindful of the taxpayer’s coffers. We are not going to be issuing new voters’ cards. We shall be depending on verification done by village councils. That is the essence of the displaying period and verification.
What was the rationale behind this provision for non-citizens?
I wasn’t there when it was formulated, but from common sense argument, a non-citizen is a resident of your village. If both of you have premises on the village, and that non-citizen benefits from and contributes to the services of the Local Council, he needs security, endorsement of letters, and other concerns regarding other residents. Then why shouldn’t he have a say in who the next chairperson is? I think that is the essence.
There is concern that there are many Sudanese who could scoop all LC posts in some villages
Non-citizens participate only as voters and not as office aspirants. They can only vote and cannot be voted for. They cannot take office.
What method are we going to use? Is it secret ballot or lining up?
A Chairperson will be strictly by secret ballot. Then after he/she has been elected, the rest of his executive will be announced. The council will vote each of those seven officers by show of hands.
What is the role of political parties in these elections? Are they supposed to field candidates?
Of course. We are in a multiparty era, so political parties are supposed to be bonafide participants. They must field candidates. They must have done their primaries already, I hope.
What about independents?
The law recognises the presence of independents. So it should not be a surprise for any one to see an independent standing.
What will be on the ballot papers?
We have over 30 registered political parties, each of which has got a bonafide symbol. So we have designed ballot papers containing symbols of all the registered parties plus about six independent symbols. We have chosen six symbols at random, from which those who will be running as independents will have to choose.
QUESTION: We have had quite a number of elections in the past few months. Now, which are these other elections you are preparing to hold?
ANSWER: We have a number of elections that are remaining. lWe have LC1 elections, along which elections for the youth and women at that level will be done. Registration of voters for that was conducted between June 16-20. We appealed to all residents in the 25, 000 villages plus across this country to register irrespective of whether one is a citizen or a non-citizen. This registration embodied both categories (citizens and non-citizens), and this was the law. It was not a creation of the Electoral Commission. We mean to make certain that the election is held on August 10.
- Election of Councillors at LC3 level will be conducted on June 29 across the country. These are meant to fill gaps that remained during the national LC 3 elections on March 10. Campaigns for those positions commenced on June 18 and end on June 27. There has not been call for new nominations because nominations for these have already been done.
- We are also anticipating an election in Dodoth County where an MP passed away. We have made plans to conduct an election on June 29.
- There are other elections of Sub-county chairmen that we have put on June 29.
- LC2 elections will also follow but we have not fixed a date for these. So LC1 will be on August 10, and LC3 Councillors who remained on June 29. Youth and Women associated with LC1 will be elected on August 10 and those associated with LC3 on June 29.
Why did some LC3 Councillors remain unelected during the March polls?
Some technicalities associated with selection of symbols and their late submission. Candidates found out that the symbols they were campaigning under were not the ones allotted to them on ballot papers. And they couldn’t go to the polls because this would disadvantage them.
Why are we having these elections at this point in time?
We could not have conducted these elections at the same time as presidential, parliamentary, LC5 nor LC3 elections. First of all the register is different. It includes non-citizens. Secondly, the polling stations differ in number. In these we shall have polling stations at every meeting place of each village, meaning we have over 45,000 polling stations. So you couldn’t do that at the same time as other elections.
Why are we registering again? Can’t we use the register you used in March?
We cannot use the register we sued for presidential and parliamentary elections, neither can we use one for LC3 and LC5 elections because of the different undertakings. Variables differ. First, in the national registration the requirement for non-citizens is not there. Secondly, the other national register was pegged on 19,786 polling stations. So to pick and create for 45,000 polling stations from that register we have would be impossible. So it necessitates creation of another register, which is generic.
Shall we get new voters’ cards for these elections?
We have to be mindful of the taxpayer’s coffers. We are not going to be issuing new voters’ cards. We shall be depending on verification done by village councils. That is the essence of the displaying period and verification.
What was the rationale behind this provision for non-citizens?
I wasn’t there when it was formulated, but from common sense argument, a non-citizen is a resident of your village. If both of you have premises on the village, and that non-citizen benefits from and contributes to the services of the Local Council, he needs security, endorsement of letters, and other concerns regarding other residents. Then why shouldn’t he have a say in who the next chairperson is? I think that is the essence.
There is concern that there are many Sudanese who could scoop all LC posts in some villages
Non-citizens participate only as voters and not as office aspirants. They can only vote and cannot be voted for. They cannot take office.
What method are we going to use? Is it secret ballot or lining up?
A Chairperson will be strictly by secret ballot. Then after he/she has been elected, the rest of his executive will be announced. The council will vote each of those seven officers by show of hands.
What is the role of political parties in these elections? Are they supposed to field candidates?
Of course. We are in a multiparty era, so political parties are supposed to be bonafide participants. They must field candidates. They must have done their primaries already, I hope.
What about independents?
The law recognises the presence of independents. So it should not be a surprise for any one to see an independent standing.
What will be on the ballot papers?
We have over 30 registered political parties, each of which has got a bonafide symbol. So we have designed ballot papers containing symbols of all the registered parties plus about six independent symbols. We have chosen six symbols at random, from which those who will be running as independents will have to choose.