WHAT HAPPENS ON ELECTION DAY
On May 19, 2009, people of Malawi will be casting their votes in the parliamentary and presidential races.
The polls will open at 06:00 hours and will close at 18:00 hours.
Where Can The Voter Vote?
The voter may vote at the polling station established for the constituency where the voter is registered.
Who Can Vote?
A person can only vote if their name is on the Commission’s Voters’ Register for the polling station where they are attempting to vote.
The Voter’s Identity
A voter is entitled to vote only once at an election. All voters are obligated to have their fingers checked to ensure that they have not already voted before being issued with ballot papers.
Voters’ register
Each polling station will have an extract from the National Voters’ Register, known as the “Certified Voters’ Register”.
Each polling station will be supplied with two copies of the Voters’ Register for the polling station, one “Certified Voters’ Register” for use to mark the voter as having voted and the second as a “Reference Voters’ Register”, as described below.
Each polling station will also receive additional reference lists:
- A list of voters who have been removed from the Voters’ Register because they have been reported to the Commission as deceased.
- A list of voters who registered when they were not yet 18 years of age and had not reached the age of 18 on 19 May, 2009.
Two registers are being supplied as there may be spelling errors in some of the voters surname and other names that may not have been corrected and will require the checking of the reference register using the Voter Registration Certificate number.
SECRECY OF THE VOTE
In order to ensure the secrecy of the vote, the voting booths will be placed so that no one can see into it while the voter marks the ballot paper.
The voters will then fold the ballot papers so that no one can see the mark on the ballot papers and place it in a sealed ballot box.
Voting procedure
Voter Identification
The Identification Clerk will ask the voter for their Voter Registration Certificate and will check their fingers to make sure they have not voted already.
After he has found the name in the Voters’ Register, the Identification Clerk shall then place a tick in the box provided against the voter’s particulars in the Certified Voters’ Register, to indicate that the voter has voted.
If the voter’s surname cannot be found the Identification Clerk shall check for other possible spellings and also check the Voters’ Register using the voter’s other names.
When the voter’s name is found on the reference register the spelling of the voter’s name must be noted and found on the Certified Voters’ Register and the voter will then be allowed to vote as normal.
Inking Of Voters’ Fingers
At the next desk, the Inking Clerk will examine the voter’s index fingers on both hands for traces of ink. The Inking Clerk shall wipe the right index finger before dipping it in the ink. The Inking Clerk shall then direct the voter to the next desk.
Ballot Paper Issuing and Marking The Ballot Paper
The voter shall then move to the Parliamentary Ballot Paper Issuer, who shall issue the parliamentary ballot paper to the voter.
Issuer must explain clearly to the voter how the ballot paper should be marked, and direct them to the voting booth and advice them in which ballot box to place the ballot paper once they have voted.
After voting and placing the parliamentary ballot paper in the ballot box the voter shall then move back to the Inking Clerk.
Presidential Voting
The Inking Clerk shall wipe off the left index finger before dipping it in the ink.
Ballot Paper Administration and Casting of the Vote
The voter shall then move to the Presidential Ballot Paper Issuer, who shall issue the presidential ballot paper to the voter.
The Presidential Ballot Paper Issuer must explain clearly to the voter how the ballot paper should be marked, and direct them to the voting booth and advice them in which ballot box to place the ballot paper once they have voted.