ZIMBABWE ELECTION SUPPORT NETWORK BIOMETRIC VOTER REGISTRATION UPDATE – NUMBER7 26 October 2017 - The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) continues to observe the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) exercise. This update is based on observations by ZESN observers deployed to cover all the wards under Phase One. Voter Registration Process ZESN observed that at 98% of registration centres where observers were stationed, the voter registration process was conducted smoothly with registration officials duly following registration procedures. ZESN also observed that most of the registration centres opened and closed at stipulated times thereby affording potential registrants ample time to present themselves for registration. Of concern to ZESN are reports that some citizens with IDs written ‘aliens’ were turned away despite having documentation to prove that their citizenship status had been regularized. Data Storage and Transmission ZESN notes that as the first phase of the BVR exercise comes to a close, issues of transmission and storage of data from the various registration centers to the district, provincial and national data centers needs to be clearly explained by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to enable electoral stakeholders to have a better understanding of how registration data will be moved to the national data center. ZESN notes that in the spirit of transparency and Open Data, the ZEC procedures on the transmission and storage of data must be clearly communicated and publicized to all electoral stakeholders and the general public. Critical information regarding kit movement in-between phases must be clearly publicized, for instance, at the conclusion of each phase will the BVR kits be reset or new registrations simply be added to what is already in a kit? In addition, what regulations and procedures are in place governing the transportation of USB sticks, the receipt and uploading of data to the central BVR database? Political Environment ZESN observer reports indicate prevalence of intimidation of potential registrants by political actors, especially in rural areas, with registrants being forced to submit the serial numbers of their voter registration slips. For instance, in Mt Darwin Ward 34 villagers were being asked to report to the ZANU PF leadership after registering to vote so that the particulars on their registration slips could be recorded. Furthermore, reports from Ward 17

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