ZIMBABWE ELECTION SUPPORT NETWORK the election, any accredited observer who requests the voters' roll after paying the prescribed fee, a copy of the voters roll, including a consolidated roll. The Act also stipulates that within a reasonable time after nomination the commission shall provide every candidate one copy in electronic form for which the candidate is nominated or upon payment of the prescription fee, a candidate shall receive a printed copy of the voter's roll which the candidate has been nominated. The Act also adds that where a voters roll is in electronic form should be in a format that can be searched and analysed but should be in a form that does not allow it to be altered. other public institution where the claimant resides; (f) a statement confirming that the claimant resides at the stated place of residence made by or on behalf of the person in whose name a mining location is registered in the area where the claimant resides; (g) a statement by the claimant's employer confirming his or her address; (h) a confirmation letter by the relevant councillor, village head, headman or Chief confirming that the claimant resides in the ward he or she claims to reside in; (i) a continuation letter by farm owner or resettlement officer confirming that the claimant resides in the ward he or she claims to reside in; (j) an offer letter proving that the claimant is in lawful occupation of the land to which the offer letter relates; (k) a hospital bill or a clinic or hospital card or an envelope with post office markings reflecting the claimant's address. The inspection process as conducted by ZEC fell short of the requirements of the Act. The law clearly stipulates that the voter's roll is a public document and open to inspection by the public. However, during the inspection period ZESN observers noted that: The voters' roll was not posted for inspection outside Inspection Centers (ICs) and people could only check their names by handing their identity documents to the inspection staff. The impact of this is that voters could not check for friends or family or provide objections to the Inspection Center staff. This public scrutiny of the roll is important for removal of ineligible voters by reason of multiple registration, death or non-residence. Apart from the fact that the voters' roll was not displayed for public inspection, the major problem witnessed was shortage of some of the materials required to make changes or add new registrants to the voters' roll. Observers encountered ICs where the Voter Registration Data Correction Form (VR 1) and Transfer Form (VR 3) were missing 15% of the time. This was high especially at the beginning of the inspection period4. While the ZEC tried to be extensive in stating what constitutes proof of residence, it was still argued that this requirement was prejudicial to some who were unable to attain any of the said documents. Many raised the issue that it was cumbersome and discouraged some from registering to vote2. Registration and Inspection of the Voters' Roll Section 17 of the Electoral Act states that, 'Voter registration shall be conducted on a continuous basis so as to keep the voters' roll up to date.' This means that voter registration should happen throughout the electoral cycle. Once the roll has been compiled the Act stipulates that it is open to be inspected by anyone. Section 21 stipulates that the voters' roll is a public document and open to inspection by the public, free of charge during ordinary office hours. While inspecting without removing it a person is free to make notes and the commission shall within a reasonable period provide any person who requests it and pays the prescribed fee, with a copy of the voters roll, including a consolidated roll3. De-duplication process The Act states in Section 32 that The Commission shall ensure that no person is registered as a voter more than once on the voters roll for any one polling station. However, in the event that 'the Commission is satisfied that a voter is registered more than once on the voters' roll for any polling station, the The commission is also obliged to provide the voters' roll to every political party that intends to contest 2 Available https://www.herald.co.zw/residents-say-no-to-proof-of-residence-for-bvr/ Section 21 of the Electoral Act http://www.zesn.org.zw/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/ZESN-Report-on-the-Inspection.pdf 3 4 11 FINAL REPORT OF THE 2018 VOTERS' ROLL AUDIT