which often comes not long before the election itself. Yet the delimitation exercise, which depends on voter numbers as much as geography, may also need a voters’ roll. It may be a point to consider whether the delimitation exercise can be done using estimates of the current roll and then allow the voters’ roll to accurately reflect persons in each of those constituencies and wards. Otherwise there is the risk of a mismatch between wards and constituency rolls prepared before the delimitation and the actual wards and constituencies that the exercise will create. Election Centres • A new Section 37C requires the Commission to designate centres from which parliamentary, presidential and local authority elections can be conducted at constituency and ward level, namely, the National Command Centre (from which the Commission will organise elections), the provincial command centre, the senatorial constituency centre and, for the purposes of special voting, the district centre. • The national command centre may be the Commission’s headquarters or ‘any other place’ which leaves room for the Commission to choose an appropriate location with adequate facilities. Subsection (4) makes provision for the transmission of election results through all the relevant centres in a manner that is transparent and credible. The results for each separate polling station, ward and constituency must be distinctly captured throughout the process. (the command centre should be accessible, permanent and known, should not change before results are announced) • The setting out of the process of results transmission under Section 37C is important in enhancing the transparency of the electoral system. Much will depend on how this is implemented on the ground. The efficiency of the system will turn heavily on the training and professionalism of the persons charged with responsibilities for conducting the elections. XVIII INDEPENDENCE OF Re-statement of the Commission’s Power and Functions 44

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