New Calendar For Voter Registration

New Calendar For Voter Registration

Maputo, 16 Dec (AIM) – The Mozambican parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, on Thursday amended the country’s electoral legislation, so that voter registration ahead of the October 2023 municipal elections will run from April to June, instead of the initial proposal of February to April.

Introducing the amendment, Justice Minister Helena Kida said the February-April period is unsuitable because it coincides with the rainy season. This could compromise activities such as placing materials at registration sites throughout the country and providing technical assistance to the registration brigades.

Changing the registration period allows reducing the deadline for the presentation of candidates’ nomination papers from the current 120 days to 60 days before the election date of 11 October.

Kida said the alteration will allow voter registration to be held during the dry period. She was optimistic that this will give time for calculating the number of seats in each municipal assembly (which depends on the number of registered voters) and will allow candidates access to the electoral registers 30 days before the date of the elections.

These are the sixth municipal elections held since municipalities were established in Mozambique in 1998.

The alteration of the dates proved uncontroversial and the amendment was passed unanimously, supported by the parliamentary groups of the ruling Frelimo Party, and of the two opposition parties, Renamo and the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM).
(AIM)
Pf/ (232)