Officers need 6mths clearance

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
ALL public servants who wish to stand for next year’s general election will need to resign from their job by November.
Acting Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai said they must vacate the office they hold six months before the issue of writ on April 28.
Sinai was asked if there was a minimum requirement for those who wanted to stand for the election.
He said there was no prerequisite for people who wished to be a candidate.
“As it is, we cannot stop candidates from standing regardless of their educational background,” he said.
“Those with limited educational background may be better than those with educational background, and it is their democratic right to stand for the election.”
Sinai said the nomination fee still stood at K1,000.
He was at the forefront of the launch of the 2021-2022 e\Election programme yesterday.
“The issue of writ is on April 28, close of nomination on May 5, polling will start on Saturday, June 25, and ends on July 8, from July 8 to July 29 across country counting will commence with the return of writs on July 29,” he said.
“Our key priority is to ensure the electoral roll update for 2022.
“While we know the voter roll is not perfect, we have accepted the fact that there is no perfect roll around the world in any elections.
“We can improve quality of the roll, and include eligible voters as participants.
“Voter roll updates incorporates lessons learnt in 2017, past elections and recent by-election being conducted.”
“Phase one in 2021 includes the working roll enrollment which sees verification and try to update roll provisional for those who turned 18.
“Phase two working roll will be publicly displayed for people to confirm their enrolments with the commission.
“Phase three display in provinces, we have decentralised the roll in provinces so residents in the province can check their names in their own province.”