Section 3
The section highlights the forms to ZESN had pointed out that the VR1 and VR2 forms were blank in the draft regulations and
be used for registration, transfer, needed to be populated. This has since been regularised.
objections and complaints related
to voter registration.
In accordance with recommendations made by ZESN, the forms also now make provisions for
and anticipate registration of voters with disabilities.
The regulations also now make provisions for the issuance of a voters’ registration certificate in
accordance with Sec 26 of the Electoral Act as recommended by ZESN. The regulations should
clearly specify in what form the registration certificate will be issued.
However, ZESN recommends that the registration slips contain enhanced security features to
deter possibilities of the fraudulent use of registrations slips.
Section 4
This section reproduces the
previous section in the draft
regulations and specifies the
documents that have to be
produced to prove a potential
voter`s identity.
As previously pointed out, the provision is consistent with the principal Act and the Constitution.
Section 5
This Section provides for the
requirements of residence in order
for one to be registered as a voter.
The person who seeks to be
registered should provide proof of
his residential address.
The provision seeks to give effect to Section 23 of the Electoral Act and Section 2 of the fourth
schedule to the Constitution. There is a notable departure from the equivalent section in the
draft regulations. These regulations delete the reference to the word ‘affirm’ and substituted by
a new section that now requires a potential voter to provide some form of proof of residence. It
must be pointed out that the new section is restrictive in this sense, compared to section 5 of
the draft regulations which merely required a potential voter to affirm his/her residential
address before a voter registration officer. Section 5(1) lists at least eleven documents that may
be accepted as proof. On the face of, the listed documents seem wide and broad enough to
guarantee that any potential voter would be able to register. In circumstances where the
potential voter cannot produce any of the eleven documents s/he can still file an affidavit
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