ELECAM, political parties, CSOs multiply strategies to improve voter registration.

This is in accordance with the end of the year electoral process which began on January 1and is to close on August 31 for the year 2024.

The strategies implemented are in line with Section 72 of the Electoral Code, which defines the revision process for every year.

With the aim of attaining its objectives, the implemented strategies include televised commercials, proximity measures, use of community radio stations and the social media, as well as carrying out missions abroad to enroll Cameroonians.

Another method implemented is the broad-based consultations between Elections Cameroon and other stakeholders, nationally and internationally.

With the social media platforms of ELECAM, notably Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), the three bodies are ensuring the population will be constantly updated with pictures and activities of the institution as concerns voter registration and the electoral process. 

ELECAM’s collaboration with political parties, as displayed on its social media platforms, is to encourage both party sympathisers and citizens to participate in the exercise and get registered.

The stakeholders have equally embraced the tactic of taking the registration process closer to the people, especially in areas where there is a large gathering of people. Civil society organisations, which are carrying out sensitisation campaigns, educative talks on school premises in order to get those of required age registered for the upcoming elections.

Making use of community radios, ELECAM uses a 30-minutes programme known as "Café Media", used to inform the local community and educate them on the need for participating in the electoral process.

Members of the Electoral Board and staff of ELECAM recently carried out working missions abroad, within the premises of the country's diplomatic mission in order to get everyone involved.

The objective of implementing all possible measures by ELECAM is to make the electoral process as inclusive as possible, by enabling even those who are out of the country to actively exercise their civic responsibilities.

Political parties, on their part, are constantly organising press conferences and social media publications to pass across the message of voter registration. Civil society organisations are also constantly organising seminars on civic responsibility during this electoral process.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3198 of Tuesday August 13, 2024