Voter registration kicks off, over 1.7 million new voters targeted

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The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has launched the voter registration exercise targeting to register over 1.7 million new voters ahead of the 2016 general election.

 

Launching the exercise in Lusaka this morning, ECZ Chairperson Justice Esau Chulu has called on potential voters to register so that the voter turnout in the 2016 elections can increase.
Justice Chulu expressed concern that the voter turnout has been decreasing since the 2006 general election.

 

He says the voter turnout for the 2006 election stood at 70%, dropping to 53% in 2011 and 43% during the 2015 presidential by-election.
Justice Chulu says this is the more reason the commission is encouraging potential voters to register as voters.

 

He states that in order to encourage as many eligible voters; the commission has provided that any person, who will turn 18 years before or on 31st July, 2016 will be allowed to register as a voter.
He says the commission will also replace voters’ cards for the registered voters whose cards have either lost or destroyed.

 

Justice Chulu however states that this will require one to produce a Police report before having their voter’s card replaced.
He says the commission has since asked for a waiver of the fees for a police report during this exercise.
And the commission has announced that the ballot papers for Solwezi West and Lubansenshi arrived in the country last night from South Africa ahead of the by-election slated for 24th September.

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