South Sudan Voter Registration Hits The Million Mark

Almost a week after the commencement of the referendum voter registration exercise in South Sudan, the Southern Sudan Referendum Bureau (SSRB) says 997,121 eligible voters have registered.

SSRB member Dr Achuer Deng told the press yesterday that registration in the 891 registration centers in South Sudan was proceeding smoothly although most centers were inaccessible due to poor road networks.

“During the first week of the registration we managed to be in contact with 891 referendum centers. Communication with remaining centres remains a challenge. Based on the reports we have received from these 891 centers, as close of business Sunday 21 November, 997,121 voters have registered”, said Deng.

He said that as a result of massive turnout, many centres have run out of registration materials, adding that the bureau is monitoring and addressing the situation.

“More than fifty centres have been re-supplied with over 1,690 registration books and 169 kits have been sent out to centres where turn out has been high in the first week of registration. Additionally we are expecting the delivery of more kits to ensure that we have a sufficient stock to last through the end of the registration”, he said.

Deng called upon all stakeholders to mobilise voters for the registration despite the challenges being faced across South Sudan.

“If the voters encounter long queues or a shortage of materials at the first referendum centre they visit they should look for alternative voter registration centers in the vicinity”, he said.

Deng said the bureau has a low turnout of women and on encouraged more women to register before the expiry of the registration deadline.

The SSRB chairperson Justice Chan Reec cited logistical problems as the biggest challenge to reach all registration centres.