Statement by Alieu Momarr Njai, Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), at a Press Conference held at the start of the 2021 General Registration of Voters
Date: 28″ May 2021
Venue: Election House, Bertil Harding Highway, Kanifing Municipality
Distinguished Members of the Commission,
Representatives of Donor Partners,
Representatives of Political Parties,
Members of the IEC staff,
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press,
All Gambians.
Watch the full IEC Press Conference in the video link below
Once again, I welcome you all to the IEC and to this very important occasion which marks the start of the 2021 General Registration of Voters in The Gambia.
The IEC under section 43 of the Con_stitution of The Republic of The Gambia has the mandate to conduct voter registration and all public elections.
It is against this backdrop that voter registration is conducted to register all eligible citizens so as to provide them with the opportunity to exercise such rights. The conduct of the general voter registration is key in the electoral cycle of 2021 to 2023. Thus, its success is pivotal in the conduct of subsequent electoral activities. The 2021 general voter registration will begin tomorrow 29th May to 11th July 2021.
The previous General Voter Registration was conducted in 2011. It was conducted in over 636 Registration Centers and 800 Registration Officers were contracted.
Currently, for the 2021 General Registration of Voters, Two hundred and twenty (220) voter registration teams have been deployed to 730 Registration Centers across the country. These teams are being manned by 880 Registration Officers. One million voters are expected to be registered.
To be qualified to be registered, a person has to be a Gambian citizen and should at least be 18 years by the 4th December 2021, which is the date for the next Presidential election.
One needs to provide one of the following documents to be registered as a voter:
1. Valid Gambian identity card
2. Gambian passport
3. Birth certificate
4. Attestation from Alkalo or Seyfo.
I would like to take this opportunity to call on all eligible Gambians to turn out in their numbers to register during the conduct of the 2021 General Registration exercise. This would enable them to participate in various elections. This is a civic duty for every citizen. The Commission assures all Gambians of
its unflinching resolve to register all eligible Gambians.
The Commission implores all Gambians and stakeholders in the electoral process to render their utmost support to voter registration teams so as to facilitate the accomplishment of the exercise.
On that Note, I thank you for your kind attention.
