ELECAM rules out voter registration on Sundays.

According to the Dr Erik Essousse, ELECAM staff have been deployed on the field and are doing their job as per the law. 

“We will continue to enroll people from Monday to Friday from 7:30a.m. to 3:30p.m. but we can go till 6p.m.,” he said. 

He, however, argued that: “During weekends, it is not authourised by the law but we can do it exceptionally on Saturday if there is need in some particular places to avoid”.

Dr Erik Essousse insisted on the fact that: “I don’t want to see workers on the field on Sundays. Sunday is day of prayer. So, if you see any ELECAM worker out on Sunday, this is not an order from the Director General. Official working days are from Monday to Friday and Saturday on exceptional cases”.

“ELECAM does not align with illegal activities,” he stated. He equally saluted the ongoing social media campaigns for the massive registration of Cameroonians on the electoral register while noting that this should be done in strict respect of the law. 

“We like what the different groups are doing but this has to be done in a professional manner and by so doing we need to respect the law,” he said. 

Diaspora registration in gestation

On the issue of registration at the level of the diaspora, he noted that enrollment kits are being installed at different embassies and consular services.

“We want to assure that enrollment in the diaspora will begin in the days ahead. We will proceed with the registration of Cameroonians of voting age and the law in Cameroon is very clear about it: they must be of Cameroonian nationality, be holder of a Cameroonian passport…,” Dr Erik Essousse said.

Encourages political parties to sustain campaigns

He also used the opportunity to encourage political parties to continue pushing for their supporters to have them registered on the electoral register in strict respect of the law. ELECAM, he said, will continue to communicate on their different activities on the different platforms.

ELECAM acquires new machines to boost voter registration

Responding to questions on the delay in the distribution of voters’ cards, he noted that the institution, at the beginning had state-of-the-arts machines which have gone old. 

The ELECAM official said maintenance works are on course while funds have been made available to buy new machines.

“To ensure that we have the best machines, we work in close collaboration with our technicians so as to get kits that work like the first group of kits acquired in 2013 for because those 2018 don’t meet to our demands,” Dr Erik Essousse said.

At the level of ELECAM, he stated that communication is very effective and what is needed is continuous updating of the public on  the voter registration itinerary of ELECAM.

Over 200,000 new voters in 2024 first quarter

According to Dr Erik Essousse, since the launch of the revision of the electoral register in 2024, ELECAM has been able to register over 200,000 potential voters. This, he said, is for the first quarter of 2024. 

Among the number, he disclosed that 148,000 are young people among them persons living with disabilities. To note that, the clarification comes amid multiple calls from civil society actors for ELECAM to engage in special voter registration exercises.