ZEC urged to reinstate special vote as police officers lose voting rights

In a statement released on June 17, the Zimbabwe Electoral Support Network (ZESN) has urged the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to reinstate the special vote which allows electoral and security officials who will be on duty on election day to cast their votes in advance.

This comes after ZEC chairperson Rita Makarau revealed that members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and ZEC officials on duty away from their wards will not be able to vote. Part of the statement by ZESN reads:

ZESN has continually called for the reinstatement of the Special vote in order to ensure that no eligible voters are disenfranchised from exercising their right to vote as provided for in Section 67 subsection (3)(a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

ZESN believes that there is need to reconsider reinstating the special vote as it enables electoral officials and the security officials on duty on election day to vote in advance. Although ZESN is cognisant of the various logistical and management challenges that characterised the previous special vote, the Network believes that special vote was a positive development in ensuring the right to vote and secrecy of the ballot.

ZESN urged ZEC to emulate countries in the SADC region. ZEC is also urged to speed up the voter registration process before the rainy season.

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