How To Obtain A Voter’s Card In Cameroon: A Detailed Guide

Introduction

A voter’s card is defined as a card provided by ELECAM to each Cameroonian citizen that allows him or her to vote in an election. This card includes the voter’s full name, date and place of birth, parentage, photograph, fingerprints, occupation, domicile, and residence.

Citizens’ lack of awareness of procedure, delays in obtaining National ID cards, which contribute to low voter registration, delays in issuing voter cards by ELECAM officials, and the problematic nature of voter registration in conflict and post-conflict areas are some of the challenges faced in the electoral process. The aim is to educate and sensitize Cameroonians on the steps required to obtain a voter’s card, the eligibility requirements, and the importance of being an active participant in the electoral process.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for voter registration, the individual must be a Cameroonian citizen, be 20 years old, resided in their municipality for at least 6 months and have no criminal records that strip them of their civil and political rights.

Validity and Renewal of Voter’s Card

A voter’s card must be permanent. However, if a voter card is lost or destroyed, it can be renewed. If your voter’s card is lost, your name remains on the electoral register, and you can vote with your national identity card. The electoral code allows for the issuance of a new voter’s card in two situations: when a person switches polling stations or relocates from one municipality to another (For instance, if you were registered in Limbe in 2017 and you have your card and you moved to Buea, you go to the nearest ELECAM office, you surrender the old card filling a form; your name will be transferred from Limbe to Buea. You will then be issued a new card carrying your new location).

How to Obtain your Voter’s Card

1. Registration: It is done at any nearby ELECAM office. Presenting a valid National Identity Card, which is required for voter identification, is part of the registration procedure
2. Biometric Capture: This involves taking a picture and fingerprints of the voter.
3. Biographic Information: This entails personal information such as name, gender, date of birth and address
4. Issuance of a receipt: after collection of data, a receipt is printed out and given to the individual which he will use to collect his/her voter’s card when it is available
5. Issuance of voter’s card: once registered voters are issued a voter’s card which is used to vote during elections. This card is available at ELECAM offices before elections
   
   

Importance of Obtaining a Voter’s Card

1. Participate in electing their leaders and holding them accountable. 
2. Exercise their democratic rights in referendums and local elections.
3. Protect the integrity of the electoral process by reducing opportunities for voter fraud through biometric identification.
4. It gives you a say in important issues that affect you such as roads, education and healthcare.
5. Your vote is power. You can’t be part of an electing process without a voter’s card.

Recommendations

1. Improve Access to National ID Cards: A valid National Identification card is essential for voter registration; the government should streamline the ID issuance process to enable more citizens to participate in the elections.
2. Advocacy through NGO’s specifically Grassroots organizations: Grassroots organizations play a significant role in electoral processes thus they can conduct massive awareness-raising campaigns and sensitizing apolitical persons on the impact of their democratic duties in political discourses.
3. The government should ensure that in conflict and post-conflict situations, internally displaced persons who have lost their documents should be given privilege positions to register and vote freely.

Conclusion

Voting is for all youths inclusive as they are not too young to vote. By obtaining a voter’s card, young people do not only exercise the duty to vote but also take an active role in shaping policies that affect their lives. Participate in elections.

References

• ACE The Electoral Knowledge Network, accessed at: https://aceproject.org/ace-en/topics/vr/annex/case-studies/biometric-voter-registration-in-cameroon
• ELECAM, Registration on the electoral lists, accessed at: https://elecam.cm/?q=en/content/registration-electoral-lists  
• The Electoral Code of Cameroon
• The Cameroon Constitution