The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) CEO Ezra Chiloba has made an important announcement directing all returning officers to ensure that all ballot papers are stamped before being used.
An Internal Memo dated August 5th, 2017 from Mr Chiloba to all returning officers, directed them to stamp all ballot papers to determine their validity.
“ While the law requiring the stamping of ballot papers was done away with through the 2007 amendments to the elections (General) Regulations 2012, the commission has resolved that all ballot papers that are not stamped shall be treated as INVALID” reads part of the Memo.
The CEO added that all returning officers should inform their presiding officers to ensure they take care of the new directive.
“Returning officers should immediately bring this to the attention of the presiding officers. My memo of 3 August 2017 which was inadvertently sent is hereby revoked. Take note and inform the POs Promptly.” Chiloba stated.
On Thursday, August 3rd, 2017, IEBC CEO released a memo directing that ballot papers likely to be found unstamped would still be valid.
He noted that the General Election Regulation 77 that enlisted reasons for rejection of ballot papers did not include lack of a stamp as one of the reasons.
In the past, all ballot papers were stamped but the General Election Regulation, 2012 outlawed the procedure doing away with stamping as validation requirement.
The change of heart by IEBC has elicited reactions with Third Way Alliance’s presidential candidate Ekuru Aukot stating that "inconsistency in the decisions made by the electoral commission just two days to the polls day stands a higher chance to kill public confidence in IEBC".
