Sudan launches voters registration
November 1, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — Voters registration process has begun Sunday in Sudan for one month ahead of the general election scheduled for April 2010.
The operation is seen as first step in the electoral process as only registered people would be eligible to participate in the first free election since 1986. President Omer Al-Bashir has urged the political forces to encourage their supporters to participate in the registration.
However the operation has been criticized by the opposition parties who said one month is not enough, and asked to extend it. Also the opposition blamed the National Election Commission (NEC) for not informing the population about the operation.
The NEC said today it has mobilized all the concerned authorities and material to ensure the success of the voters registration.
Abdalla Ahmed, the NEC deputy chairman called on the Sudanese political parties to urge their supporters to rush to the registration centers to make the democratic experience a success. He stressed the importance of participation of all the community sectors in this process to pave the way for their participation in the coming elections.
The NEC said it has established 15000 registration centers in the country while Khartoum only has some 1125 centers established in 50 electoral constituencies. The number of possible Sudanese voters is estimated at 20 million.
In Juba, the US envoy who arrived to Khartoum today evening, urged the Sudanese to register in electoral lists in order to be able to participate in the upcoming general elections and to contribute to bring peace in the country.
Scott Gration made his remarks at All Saints Day, Juba Cathedral in presence of Sudan’s First Vice President and President of Southern Sudan government, Salva Kiir Mayadrit, and Archbishop Paolino Lukudu Loro.
The voters registration starts at the time where Salva Kiir, the Sudan’s First Vice President called southerner to opt for the independence of Southern Sudan stirring a wave of reaction among the political parties.
“If you want to vote for independence so that you are a free person in your independent state, that will be your own choice and we will respect the choice of the people,” Salva Kiir said.
April 2010 elections will be the first in Sudan since 1986, three years before a bloodless military coup organized by the National Islamic Front in June 1989, and the fifth since independence in 1956.
(ST)
johnmaker
Sudan launches voters registration
I am urging all the southern to count their votes in Juba not khartoum.Because that evil government would rigge the vote.Thanks
Oduck Bol
Sudan launches voters registration
Wow.
How would it be for people who support a party that dose not have candidate or hiding its front runner? Just register yourself and vote for any party that has clear objectives for nation of Sudan in coming months. How do you think,if there is no democracy now for nation they were fighting for their rights. Is election is going to give people who are poor food, jobs,right to be hair and others thing too? I do not think so. Nothing will change,everything is going to be the same as they were. You will be homeless , hungry,no job event with your degree you have now if you were. The only change you will see are only misters when they change their offices,but also they stile get the same values they used to get for their living either by directly or in directly. Why you will vote for someone who will not care for you after he got in office. My advice to people who support useless people is to keep their vote which is their power to themselves instead giving to a person who will turn negative to them in future or after he/she got in the office.
Shadrack Chol Buoi
Sudan launches voters registration
Yes,It is the crucial step in the electoral process.
Let us hope that the whole electoral process will be carried out democratically.
Time1
Sudan launches voters registration
I don’t know why everybody is wasting time with this elections when the results of the presidential election is already known, Omer bashir will be declared the winner, they have already manupulated registration lists and election commission memebers, even vote papers have already been dealt with. All this effort and money is going to go down the drain, NCP has already made its plan and will rig its way back tot he presidency.
In demnocratic election the president has to evacuate his post as president but Omer has refuse to vacate and say will remain president untill the end of elections, if the man cannot leave the presidency seat while he has not lost election , do you think he will leave when he lost it?