The Electoral Commission (EC) has outlined its timeline for various activities leading up to the presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for later this year.
According to the EC’s programme of activities, nominations for candidates for the elections will be received from September 9 to 13, marking a significant milestone in the political season.
Following this, the balloting for positions on the presidential ballot paper will take place on September 23, 2024, followed by the parliamentary balloting on September 24, 2024.
The EC aims to declare the results of the presidential polls within three days of the voting exercise, provided all goes according to plan.
Prior to the nominations and voting, the EC will conduct a voters’ registration exercise from May 7 to May 27, 2024. Additionally, a nationwide exercise to replace missing voter ID cards will take place on May 30, 2024.
To ensure public awareness and participation, the EC plans to carry out 56 days of public education on the registration exercise from April 1 to May 26, 2024.
Furthermore, the provisional voters’ register will be submitted to political parties between July 9 and 18, 2024, followed by an exhibition of the voters’ register from July 15 to 24, 2024.
These outlined activities form a crucial part of the electoral process, aiming to facilitate a smooth and transparent election in accordance with the electoral laws and regulations.
In addition to the outlined activities, the final voter register is expected to be submitted to political parties between August 30 and September 5, 2024, providing them with crucial information ahead of the elections.
During this period, the Electoral Commission (EC) will also hold meetings with stakeholders outside the political parties’ framework and engage the public through its “Let the Citizen Know” series. These efforts aim to ensure that all stakeholders understand and appreciate the efforts towards a free and fair electoral process, reducing suspicions and mistrust.
Special voting for selected professionals is scheduled for December 2, five days before the main polls. This will be open to security agencies and accredited media practitioners who will be performing duties during the election day on December 7, 2024.
The EC’s mandate to ensure and enhance open and transparent operations of the electoral processes will be emphasized throughout these engagements.
While all dates are subject to review, the EC aims to declare the presidential results within a maximum of three days. Regional Collation Centers will be maintained to announce the results at the regional level, enhancing transparency and efficiency in the electoral process.
