By Obiala Angel De-son | Torit
The Eastern Equatoria State High Election Commission has pledged to begin civic and voter education campaigns across the state as preparations continue for South Sudan’s December general elections.
Speaking during the official opening of the State High Election Commission office in Torit, the Commission Chairperson, Hon. Abdallah Hassan Adidi, said election officials will soon begin public awareness campaigns in counties, payams, and bomas.
He appealed to local authorities to help identify former polling and registration centres used during the 2010 referendum to guide preparations for the upcoming elections.
“This launching of official opening of state high election office will give us opportunity to enter grass roots for official civic and voter education, while we will be on ground tell us former constituencies, polling stations and registration centers, to know whether the population has increased or decreased, as w will be for a big and heavy civic and voter education we need full cooperation with leaders on ground to leave no citizen behind, we understand that civic and voter education was not reached to people in Lotimor and kauto to register people.”
Hon. Abdallah called for cooperation among political parties, community leaders, and local authorities to ensure all eligible citizens are reached during the voter education campaign.
He also said pastoralist communities will be registered wherever they are located.
“We have people in urban areas like in Torit however we have municipality and county leaders to tell us where their registration centers and polling centers are going to be, the pastoralists will also be followed to be registered and every citizen will have to say in the area for three months to be registered.”
The Commission Chairperson further said the National Elections Commission has approved the use of government facilities at the grassroots level as voter registration and polling centres.
He also clarified that only accredited journalists and registered media practitioners will be allowed to take photographs and cover election activities.
“If a member of state high election commission goes on ground to sensitize people there are things he deserves to move with and national election office have approved all Government structures on ground to be used during the civic and voter registration exercise. We also requested for mobile to help us share information’s in case of any difficulties we face while on ground, during the election photography or taking photos is not allowed unless if you are a registered media professional and practicsioner.”
The launch was attended by representatives of political parties, civil society organizations, persons with disabilities, members of the State High Election Commission, and the media.