Organization : Zimbabwe Electoral Commission
Type of Facility : How to Remove Name From Voter Roll
Country: Zimbabwe
How to Remove Name From Voter Roll : http://www.zec.gov.zw/contacts/site-administrator/removal-from-roll
Website : http://www.zec.gov.zw/
Removal from roll :
Removal from voters’ roll on disqualification, death or absence This is dealt with in section 33 of the Electoral Act
Disqualified or dead voters :
The constituency registrar must remove as person from the roll if he or she has reason to believe that a voter whose name is registered on a voters roll has become disqualified for registration as a voter, or is dead.
Absence from Zimbabwe :
The constituency registrar must remove a person from the roll if he or she is satisfied that a voter registered on a voters roll:
** has been absent from his or her constituency for a period of 12 months or longer and is not a voter who was registered with the approval of the Registrar-General of Voters in a constituency in which he or she was not resident; or
** has left Zimbabwe with the intention of residing permanently outside.
The disqualification for absence for a period of 12 months absence will not apply to the following persons and spouses of :
** A person residing outside his or her constituency while he or she is a Vice-President, Minister, Provincial Governor or Deputy Minister;
** A person performing duties outside the country while in the service of the State;
** A person residing temporarily outside the country serving with an international organization of which Zimbabwe is a member;
** A person employed by a Zimbabwean resident or by a society or company the control and management are in Zimbabwe;
** A body incorporated in Zimbabwe.
However, the constituency registrar may not remove the name of a voter in terms of these provisions unless he or she has first published his or her intention to do so in a newspaper circulating in the area of the voter’s last known address and sent to the voter’s last known address a written notice of objection addressed to the voter, to which a form of notice of appeal has been annexed. There are various other provisions of the Electoral Act that will apply to these removal provisions. These provisions relate to constituency registrar’s power to take objection to the when he or she has reason to believe that a person is not qualified to be on the electoral roll. Under these provisions the constituency registrar must send a letter of objection to the person concerned with the form that will allow the person to lodge an appeal against the impending removal of that person’s name from the roll. Unless that person appeals within 7 days or the constituency registrar withdraws his or her objection on the basis of representations made by the person, the voter’s name will be struck off the roll. The appeal will be heard by a designated magistrate who may refer the matter for determination by a judge in chambers. These provisions will apply, with any necessary changes, to removal from the roll in terms of section 33 of the Act.
The Electoral Process :
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has the duty to conduct the electoral processes efficiently and fairly. It will need to put in place all the necessary logistics to ensure that the process runs smoothly. In the upcoming harmonised election there will be a number of different elections that will take place at the same time. Firstly, there will be direct elections for the Presidency, the 201 constituency seats in the National Assembly and the seats in the urban and rural local authorities. Most voters will vote in these elections on the ordinary voting day. However, some persons, such as soldiers and police officers, who will not be able to vote on the ordinary polling day because they will performing security duties on that day will be permitted to vote in advance of the ordinary election at special polling stations. Diplomats outside the country will be able to vote by post. A number of seats in the Senate, the National Assembly and the Provincial Councils will be allocated on the basis of a party-list system of proportional representation.
Role of Civil Society & Media :
Role and responsibilities of media during elections :
** The media must play a responsible role in reporting on the election and informing the electorate about the election.
** It must give fair coverage to the political contestants and must not encourage violence or engage in hate speech.
** The detailed duties and responsibilities of the media are contained in the Electoral Act and media regulations.
** See below for a summary of the legal provisions.
Role and responsibilities of civil societies :
** The primary responsibilities for providing voter education lies with the Electoral Commission.
** However, civil society organisations can provide voter education with the permission of ZEC.
** In conducting this education these organisations must either use voter education materials supplied by ZEC or, if they want to use their own voter education materials, these materials must be approved by ZEC.
** There are various other legal restrictions upon the provision of voter education by civil society organisations.
** The civil society organisation must be either registered as Private Voluntary Organisation or be registered in the Deeds Registry as a Trust.
** The organisation must consist wholly or mainly of Zimbabwean citizens or permanent residents or, in the case of a trust, it must have a majority of trustees who are citizens or permanent residents.
** The constitution or trust deed must mandate the organisation to conduct voter education.
** Persons employed to conduct voter education must be citizens or permanent residents.
** The materials used must be provided or approved by the Commission.
** The programme must be funded solely by local contributions or donations; any foreign contributions must be channelled to the Commission which may allocate such funds to the organisation.
** No foreign contribution or donation for the purposes of voter education shall be made except to the Commission, which may allocate such contribution or donation to any person
** The materials used must not be misleading. Copies of the proposed voter education material must be provided to the Commission.
The organisation must also :
** provide information about the programmes in which the material will be used;
** provide the Commission with all the names, addresses, citizenship or residence status and qualifications of the individuals who will conduct voter education; and
** disclose the manner and sources of funding of its proposed voter education activities.
** A Zimbabwean citizen who is 18 years of age or older and who is registered as a voter can vote in the harmonised election.