11 key issues to observe
DODOMA: AS Tanzanians flock to polling stations today to exercise their constitutional and democratic right to elect the president, members of parliament and councillors, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Judge of the High Court (Rtd) Jacobs Mwambegele has listed 11 key issues for voters to consider.
In a statement issued ahead of today’s General Election, Justice Mwambegele said that regular polling stations will open at 7:00am and close at 4:00pm, while Prison and Training College polling stations will open at 8:00am and close at 3:00pm.
“Any voter in line at the time of closing will still be allowed to vote. The polling station guard will stand behind the last voter to ensure that only those present within the designated time are allowed to vote,” the INEC chair stressed.
On attire and campaigning, Justice Mwambegele reminded the public that wearing political party uniforms at polling stations is strictly prohibited and staying within 300 metres of polling stations on Election Day is also prohibited.
To ensure every voter exercise their rights, the INEC chief said voters who cannot locate their assigned polling station will be as sisted by presiding clerks.
Priority will be given to special needs voters, including the elderly, sick, people with disabilities, pregnant women and nursing mothers with children.
“Those who are able to read Braille will be provided with a tactile ballot folder to vote independently. Voters unable to use the folder may be accompanied by a person they choose to assist them in voting,” he noted in the eightpage statement.
Justice Mwambegele reminded citizens that voting is secret, so no one should influence or reveal whom they voted for.
After voting, voters are expected to leave the polling station and return home.
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He also clarified that political parties will have agents at polling stations to protect the interests of their candidates.
He emphasised that each voter must vote at the station where they are registered or assigned by the Commission: “Any voter who has changed their information to a station they are not registered for or who requested to vote only for the president, will not be allowed to vote at another station,” he stressed.
On vote counting, the INEC chairman said that the exercise will take place at the polling station or, if necessary, at another location due to challenges.
Party agents will be present to observe the announcement of results at aggregation centres at the ward, constituency and INEC headquarters, from aggregation to the declaration of winners.
Last week, INEC issued five policy directives to ensure that eligible voters can exercise their right without hindrance.
Among these, INEC’s Director of Elections, Mr Ramadhani Kailima, said a voter whose photograph is missing from the Permanent Voters’ Register (PVR) but possesses a voter’s card with personal details that match those in the PVR, will be allowed to vote.
The director’s statement noted that a voter whose voter identification number differs from the number appearing in the PVR, but whose other details such as photograph and names are identical to those recorded in the PVR, shall also be allowed to vote.
