Updates on the electoral process
To-date, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) has issued Two Million Four Hundred and Twenty five Thousand and Twenty Six (2,425,026) Voter ID Cards out of a total of Two Million Six Hundred and Sixty Three Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty Six (2,663,746) printed cards. The difference of two Hundred and Thirty Eight Thousand Seven hundred and Twenty (238,720) represents:
- Unclaimed cards
- Cards not yet collected by Diasporas
- 794 duplicates currently being investigated by CID
- Correction done during Exhibition
The data obtained from the exhibition process are being consolidated and will be matched with the central Biometric Voter Registration data in Brussels, Belgium. Voter ID Cards will subsequently be printed and distributed nationwide during the last week of August 2012. (Photo: Dr. Christiana Thorpe, Chief Electoral Commissioner)
Management Voter ID Cards
The issue of lost ID Cards has come to the attention of the NEC. The Commission will like to remind the public that over ID cards are the properties of NEC and if found, are to be returned to the nearest NEC office or the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC).
Fifty Four (54) death cases of registrants have been reported to the Commission. These are being addressed. NEC is hereby encouraging the public to report all such cases to the nearest NEC office.
Electoral Offence Cases
Seven Hundred and Ninety Four (794) suspected fraudulent registration cases are currently at several stages of investigation by the Criminal Investigations Department of the Sierra Leone Police and as of date, Seventy (70) have been charged to court as follows:
West Area -20 Northern Region -16 Southern Region -22 Eastern Region – 12Preparation for the Nomination Process for the 2012 Elections
Timeline for Nomination of candidates for the various elective offices are as follows:
|
No |
Category |
Nomination Date |
|
1 |
Local Council (Mayors/Chairpersons & Councilors) | 12th – 23rd September 2012 |
|
2 |
Paramount Chiefs Members of Parliament | 29th September-1st October 2012 |
|
3 |
Presidential & Parliamentary | 3rd-15th October 2012 |
By Government Notice, the Commission will soon announce for the submission of papers for candidates requiring nomination for various elective offices.
The National Electoral Commission has reviewed candidates’ nomination fees in accordance with statutory regulations as prescribed in Section 46(1), 60(5) of the Public Elections Act 2012. The prescribed nomination fees for the 2012 Elections are as follows:
|
No |
Category |
Amount |
|
1 |
Councilors | Two Million Leones (Le2,000,000.00) |
|
2 |
Mayors/Chairpersons | Five Million Leones (Le 5,00,000.00) |
|
3 |
Paramount Chief Member of Parliament | Twenty Five Million Leones (Le 25,5000,000.00) |
|
4 |
Ordinary Member of Parliament | Twenty Five Million Leones (Le25, 000, 000.00) |
|
5 |
Presidential Candidates | One Hundred Million Leone (Le100, 000, 000.00) |
Following the Commission’s brainstorming activity at a recent workshop; the following were given for the review of candidate’s nomination fees:
The 2012 Elections will cost tax payers of Sierra Leone Eighty Eight (88) Billion Leones (20.1 Million Dollars). This does not include donor contribution of 9.6 Million US Dollars. The prescribed nomination fees will constitute about 23.5% of the cost to be paid by tax payers. There is justifiable as we move gradually towards national ownership of our elections.
Consultation at Sub-regional level taking into consideration the average nomination fees for the elective offices in the Sub-region.
Signed Christiana A.M. Thorpe (Dr.) Chief Electoral Commissioner/Chairperson National Returning Officer NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (NEC) OAU Drive, Tower Hill, Freetown Sierra LeoneStay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!
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