Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission seeks to have elections held separately

By ALPHONCE SHIUNDU

The electoral commission has made a formal request to the National Assembly to amend the Constitution so that the election of various categories of candidates is held on different days.

The commission wants the election of presidential, parliamentary and county aspirants to be held on different days.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) also wants doctors, police officers and polling clerks, plus all those in “essential services” to be allowed to vote early, so that they are free to do their work on elections day.

The IEBC is categorical that the people who work in essential services are usually “disenfranchised” on polling day because they are busy providing services.

Ripple effect

In the 2012-2013 financial year annual report tabled before the House yesterday, the commission has said having all the elections in one day posed “logistical and operational challenges”. The Constitution is explicit that the election of the President shall be held on the same day as that of the senators, county woman representative and MPs.

The Constitution also obligates the IEBC to carry out the election of a governor on the same day with the others as well as ward representatives.

The polling date is the second Tuesday of August of every fifth year.

“Party nominations logistics and operations had a ripple effect on the commission’s operations in regard to clearance of candidates,” the IEBC said.