Electoral Registers : Taking Off On Good Footing

Cameroon’s next electoral cycle is already on course. Presidential and regional elections will take place this year. The latter is by direct universal suffrage and the former indirect voting. The effervescence has already begun, especially in relation to the Presidential election. Elections Cameroon (ELECAM), political parties and civil society organisations are already being seen, heard and read across different platforms. This is indeed already a good sign. The Director General of Elections at ELECAM, Dr. Erik Essousse officially launched the process for the annual revision of the electoral registers on January 6, 2025 in Mbankomo. 
The electoral process spreads across several stages and therefore requires every stakeholder to begin participating as early as possible in order to avoid last minute rushes and minimise errors. Whether potential electors, the elections management body, or other stakeholders, it is fundamental that everyone gets on board on time as the annual registration exercise immediately comes to an end following the convening of the electorate for the Presidential election. The Presidential election, just like the election of regional councillors would take place in the last quarter of the year. This means the registration exercise will not span till August 31.
Elections Cameroon has to this effect, already taken measures and put in place strategies to get as many Cameroonians of voting age (20 years and above), both home and abroad participate in the process. ELECAM’s target is to attain at least eight million registered voters and have them actually cast their votes on polling day. As a result, ELECAM, since last year has been holding consultation meetings with various stakeholders to make the process credible. Various meetings held have been to raise awareness and build the capacities of key stakeholders of the electoral process on permanent peaceful electoral dialogue, with a view to achieve credible, non-violent and transparent elections in 2025 and 2026 (legislative and municipal elections). The objective of the elections managem...