The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Justice Simon Byabakama has dismissed claims that Voter Location Slips are a must have for one to cast their ballot in the forthcoming Election.
Addressing press at the Commission headquarters on Monday, Byabakama dismissed claims that government is issuing the slips to lock out some people from voting.
Byabakama told this website that the slips are only aimed at enabling voters conveniently locate their respective polling stations on polling day.
He said the most important thing is being on the national register.
It comes at a time when the commission continues issuing the slips to voters across the country amid fears that those who do not get them will not be allowed to vote.
The said slips bare a voter’s National Identify Card NIN number, voter number, name, colored photo and date of birth. It also shows the village, district, constituency, Sub County, parish and the polling station.
Justice Byabakama also warned the public against taking and attempting to use Voter Location Slips that don’t belong to them. Byabakama says by using colored photos, polling officials shall easily identify voters. He adds that they shall use metric machines to identify voters.
He further stressed that what is required of a voter is to appear on the voter register. Byabakama made it clear that having a Voter Location Slip and a National Identify Card shall not save a person whose name doesn’t appear on the register. He reasoned that one might not appear on the register because they didn’t register or because they have gone to a polling station where they aren’t voters.
Distribution of Slips started on January 3rd and shall go on till 12th January 2021. There is a concern however that the large numbers at the distribution centers could accelerate the spread of COVID-19.
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