Gambia’s 2001 law stripped electoral commission of voter screening powers
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Kerr Fatou
Gambia’s electoral commission chairman, Joseph Colley, says a 2001 legislative amendment removed the power to verify the citizenship of people registered on the electoral roll. He says the commission proposed restoring this control in 2019, according to Kerr Fatou.
Gambia’s electoral law amended in 2001 removed the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC)’s power to verify the citizenship of people applying to register on the electoral roll. Its chairman, Joseph Colley, attributed the commission’s inability to question registration applicants to this change, according to Kerr Fatou.
Between 1996 and 2001, electoral officials could question applicants, even when they presented valid identity documents. Cases involving disputed citizenship were referred to review tribunals. Since the law was amended, the IEC has been required to register people presenting legally accepted documents, including attestations, Joseph Colley explained during a monthly stakeholders’ forum.
The commission proposed in 2019 restoring its power to question applicants and ending the use of attestations, following consultations across the country. The proposal did not bring about the desired changes, its chairman said, adding that the IEC could not act outside the legal framework set by Parliament.
The issue of attestations is also at the centre of recent disputes. On 14 October, a local chief denied issuing 13,000 voter attestations; on 21 October, the courts confirmed Modou Dalla’s registration. The electoral commission also announced that it would publish the final electoral roll next week, according to its announced timetable.
Summary produced with the help of artificial intelligence tools, under AFREEQUE’s editorial responsibility.
