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ZEC is wasteful - ZESN claims
15 Aug 2016 at 08:38hrs | Views
The Zimbabwe Election Commission (ZEC) has been rapped for being wasteful during by-elections by printing excessive ballot papers amid continued decline in voter turnout.
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) on Monday released its Mazowe North by-election report saying ZEC "should analyse the current voting trends and turnout".
"ZESN has observed that in most constituencies where by-elections have been held, less than half of the printed ballot papers are used on polling day.
"This unnecessarily increases the cost of running the elections as ZEC bases the number of printed ballot papers on the overall number of registered voters in the constituency including those registered in 2013 since ZEC has been using two voters' rolls in the by-elections including in Mazowe North" said ZESN in a report seen by Bulawayo24.com.
"For example at Mvurwi community Hall in Ward 28 of the 2200 ballot papers issued only 523 were used, at Umvukwesi Primary School 800 ballot papers were availed and only 180 were used and at Goteka Primary School 619 of 1,700 ballot papers were used.
"Given the low turnout that has been characterising by-elections ZEC should analyse the current voting trends and turnout in determining the continued use of two rolls vis a vis number of ballot papers issued and other voting stationery being used to print ballot papers and supplementary roll in order to reduce the costs of running the by-elections".
ZESN said appreciates that ZEC uses a threshold method in assigning voters to specific polling stations in the polling station based voting system.
"Assuming that a maximum threshold of 1,500 voters was used in the Mazowe North by-election most of the polling stations where ZESN observed ZEC issued ballot papers below the threshold. However, at Mvurwi Community Hall 2,200 ballot papers were issued which translates to 46.7% more and at Holy Rosary 20% over the maximum threshold were issued. ZEC did not publicise the total number of ballot papers printed for the Mazowe North by-election.
"However, the internationally accepted threshold for ballot papers printed is between 5-10% as noted in the AUEOM Report on the 2013 harmonised elections,".
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) on Monday released its Mazowe North by-election report saying ZEC "should analyse the current voting trends and turnout".
"ZESN has observed that in most constituencies where by-elections have been held, less than half of the printed ballot papers are used on polling day.
"This unnecessarily increases the cost of running the elections as ZEC bases the number of printed ballot papers on the overall number of registered voters in the constituency including those registered in 2013 since ZEC has been using two voters' rolls in the by-elections including in Mazowe North" said ZESN in a report seen by Bulawayo24.com.
"For example at Mvurwi community Hall in Ward 28 of the 2200 ballot papers issued only 523 were used, at Umvukwesi Primary School 800 ballot papers were availed and only 180 were used and at Goteka Primary School 619 of 1,700 ballot papers were used.
"Given the low turnout that has been characterising by-elections ZEC should analyse the current voting trends and turnout in determining the continued use of two rolls vis a vis number of ballot papers issued and other voting stationery being used to print ballot papers and supplementary roll in order to reduce the costs of running the by-elections".
ZESN said appreciates that ZEC uses a threshold method in assigning voters to specific polling stations in the polling station based voting system.
"Assuming that a maximum threshold of 1,500 voters was used in the Mazowe North by-election most of the polling stations where ZESN observed ZEC issued ballot papers below the threshold. However, at Mvurwi Community Hall 2,200 ballot papers were issued which translates to 46.7% more and at Holy Rosary 20% over the maximum threshold were issued. ZEC did not publicise the total number of ballot papers printed for the Mazowe North by-election.
"However, the internationally accepted threshold for ballot papers printed is between 5-10% as noted in the AUEOM Report on the 2013 harmonised elections,".
Source - Byo24News
