Somaliland National Electoral Commission (NEC)has announced the new date for the voter’s registration process to commence in the country as Tuesday the 21st of July, 2015 in Togdheer region.
In a press conference held on the 19th ,7,2015 at the Somaliland National Electoral Commission (NEC) revealed that the vote’s registration process to commence in the country as Tuesday the 21st of July, 2015 in Togdheer region.
In a Statement read by Mr. Abdiqadir Iman Warsame , the Chairman of Somaliland National Electoral Commission (NEC) stated as follows
The Somaliland National Electoral Commission (NEC) would like to announce 21st , July, 2015 will be the new date for the beginning of the long awaited voter’s registration process and which will first start in Burao town, Togdhher region.
On the other hand, the Chairman of Somaliland National Electoral Commission (NEC) revealed that the electoral body was ready to intervene in a bid to find a solution to the constitutional impasse regarding the highly contention issue of the Guurtis extension of electoral timeline.
At the same the National Electoral Commission Commissioner urged members of the public against multiple registering.
Electoral Integrity requires a legal and institutional system that encourages and protects fair and equitable elections as well as application of specific measures to protect integrity based on election standards and best practices but this is not the case considering the challenges faced Somaliland National Electoral Commission (NEC) which apart from the current political impasse on the election timeline and also lack of vital funds needed acquire to essential polling materials and voting materials, this after the EU and other relevant donors withheld the funds after becoming aware of the inappropriate procedures used in awarding of contracts for procurement of voting materials and polling tools.
For instance, it has now become apparent, the procedure used awarding for the Transition Initiatives for Stabilization (TIS) contract which is funded by USAID and implemented by IOM to two local NGOs was flawed.
In partnership with the National Election Commission (NEC) and various international actors, TIS purpose was to implement a voter education initiative aimed at building awareness and educating voters about the forthcoming voter registration process in Somaliland. The aim of this project is to use various forms of outreach, communications, and media to disseminate accurate and informative messages for the upcoming voter registration process in all regions of Somaliland targeting various community groups but it seems Awdal and Sool regions have being left out.
