EC carries out post-election review |08 November 2016

Following the presidential elections of 2015 and the September 2016 National Assembly poll, the Electoral Commission (EC) is carrying out a post-election review as a means of further improving the electoral process.

The EC has reviewed the interim/final reports submitted by the international and domestic observer groups. Reports submitted by the chief electoral officer, presiding officers as well as observations made by members of the EC have also all been assessed and recommendations considered.

This exercise will also form part of the recommendations of the election reports to be submitted by the EC to the National Assembly shortly.  

In moving forward to improve on the functioning of the EC as well as the efficiency, transparency and credibility of the election processes, a number of recommendations have been considered and the EC is establishing an action plan for implementation.

The main actions included in the plan are:

1. Review the structure of the EC to promote more credibility, transparency and accountability
2. Voters census being planned for 2017 to come up with a more current and up to date voter register
3. Prepare a more substantial voter education programme to implementation prior to the next elections
4. Consider introducing fingerprint identification for registered voters
5. Embark on a new session of electoral reform in collaboration with the registered political parties and other stakeholders to review and propose improvements to the Elections Act, and Political Parties Act.

The EC recognises that the promotion of democracy in elections is a continuous process and is fully engaged to respond to recent experiences and views of all parties concerned in delivering elections which are free, credible and transparent.