NEC to allow voters to use alternative IDs during re-run polls

Dar es Salaam. The National Electoral Commission (NEC) will allow voters who have lost their cards to use alternative cards in the by-elections in 43 wards.

A press statement issued by NEC on Monday, October 16, says director of elections Mr Ramadhani Kailima told election supervisors and assistant supervisors during a training in Dodoma that voters will be allowed to use National IDs, passports and driving licenses.

“Though NEC is directed by section 62 (a) of the local government elections act to get satisfaction of voters through registration cards before voting, the commission is allowed to recommend other means of identification in the absence of voter’s identification cards,” he said.

Mr Kailima said voters were allowed under condition that names appearing in the IDs should correlate with those in the voters register, insisting that any difference will deny voters with voting opportunity.

He said NEC was planning to communicate with political parties on the new development, brought by challenges facing voters register that was last updated in 2015.

“The law directs that voters should be given new registration cards if the previous one is lost, therefore denying them with voting opportunity. Since voters register isn’t yet updated, our decision aims at providing voters to participate in the 43 wards rerun election,” reads part of a statement.

Commenting on the decision, returning officers from Tunduru District in Ruvuma Region Mr Abdul Kasembe, Urambo District Council in Tabora Region Ms Margareth Nakainga and Lushoto District in Tanga Region Mr Kazimbaya Makwega hailed the commission for the decision.

“A lot have happened since 2015 which can deny voters with voting opportunities. But, the decision has given citizens with opportunities which they could have missed unless they undergo afresh registration,” said Mr Kasembe.

Ms Nakainga said citizens with lost or damaged registration cards have been given opportunities, promising that they will mobilize citizens to appear in majority in Election Day to cast their ballots.

“The directives have come at the right time considering that under the country’s environment voter’s identifications cards are easily lost and damaged,” said Mr Makwega.