A new voter registration campaign will reduce government spending around general election time, despite carrying a price tag of $910,000 in its first year, an official assured reporters on Monday.
The voter registration campaign departs from previous registration efforts—which were reserved for election years only—by allowing voters to register and file complaints with the NEC annually.
The committee hopes the new model will cut expenditures and update voting lists, said NEC president Im Sousdey.
The committee will launch an education campaign Wednesday about the new registration process, and voters will be able to register from Oct 1 to Oct 18, NEC Secretary-General Tep Nitha said.
The NEC will spend $910,000 this year over three months on educational radio and video spots, training commune clerks, registration forms and the production of new voting lists, he said.
The NEC spent $1.5 million on voter registration in the run-up to last year’s elections, Tep Nitha said.“People are not aware of the new process yet, so political parties and civil society should help to launch the campaign to convince voters to register,” he said.
The Committee for Free and Fair Elections has been charged with auditing the final voting lists and will dispatch 200 employees to monitor voter complaints in each of the nation’s districts.
Comfrel Director Koul Panha suggested more time be allowed for voters to adjust to the new process. “Eighteen days is not enough for people to register. The NEC should extend the period to 30 days,” he said. He also urged the NEC to establish mobile registration offices to ensure all citizens have the opportunity to vote.
