Registration is now in the fifth
phase and is covering Mangochi Town Council, Mangochi, Ntcheu and constituency
Dedza South, Dedza North and Dedza East constituencies. As we progress several
incidences have occurred whereby people have found themselves on the wrong side
of the law. We all know that ignorance of the law is no defense, therefore,
there is need to remind each other of some of the electoral offenses so that we
can avoid being found on the wrong side of the law.
1.
It is an offence to give false
information so that you are allowed to register as a voter. If you are you are
underage and present false information that shows you are of age to register,
you can be arrested for an electoral offence. Those who are not above 18 or
will not have attained the age of 18 on the voting day, May 20, 2014 should not
attempt to cheat.
2.
It is a criminal offence to register
more than once. The system used by Malawi Electoral Commission has a capacity
to detect multiple registrants. Some are tempted to register more than once
just because they lost their certificate and they wanted to have another one so
that they can vote. When you have lost your certificate you need to present
your issue to the centre you registered during voter verification and the
registration supervisor will assist you with a replacement voter certificate.
Several people who have been arrested for this offence have given very innocent
reasons like I lost my certificate and I wanted a replacement. But these are
not enough to exonerate the offence of multiple registration.
3.
Preventing an eligible voter from registering
is an offence. Everyone including parents should be cautious on this. Some for political,
religious or any other reason best known to themselves, may decide to threaten
or intimidate their children from registering. This is an offence.
4.
Inciting disturbance at a
registration centre is an offence. A registration centres needs to be a secure
place free from violence. Violence may scare other people from coming to
register and this why the Commission
places Police officers in all registration centres. Apart from ensuring that
materials are safe, the police officers also work to see that registration is
done in a peaceful environment.
5.
Selling or buying a voter
certificate is an offence. Both the buyer and the seller are liable to prosecution.
A vote is a precious right as such it should not be given value of any amount
of money or material.
6.
It is an offence to be found in
possession of registration certificates of which you are not the rightful
owner. The general public should know that it is their responsibility to keep
their voter registration certificate safe. No one should cheat them to
surrender the voter certificate for safe keeping. If they come across anyone
intimidating or coercing them to surrender their certificates, for whatever
reason, they should report such people to the police.
The
general public should know that the offences highlighted above are serious and
attract a fine of up to K500,000 or two year sentence in case of default.
Feedback
and questions:
Facebook:
Malawi Electoral Commission
Twitter:
electionsmalawi
phone
0999274304; 0888870092
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