Through Twitter, a statement has been issued on the new Electoral Commission guidelines that will be followed regarding the use of cameras and other devices at different polling stations on election day this week. In a Twitter thread, the Electoral Commission has explained how the use of particular devices will be regulated.
Also read: Electoral Commission receives 38,500 biometric voter verification machines to avoid voter fraud.
This comes after many voters have claimed that their phones or cameras will be one of the most essential requirements come Thursday. We live in the digital era and you cannot deny the power of the internet as people have progressed to taking pictures and videos of certain events which has certainly made people accountable for their actions because of crystal clear evidence.
Read also: Apply now for the Uganda Tech Engineers Challenge 2020
People have aired concerns over the restrictions in the Electoral Commission guidelines on the use of cameras and other devices on election day as observed during the pre-election period. The Electoral Commission says it took note of this and that is why it has taken the liberty to guide people in their various capacities on the use of these devices on that day.
The statement issued about the Electoral Commission guidelines is as follows:
According to this statement, it looks like the Electoral Commission guidelines are only regulating the use of cameras and other recording devices to ensure anonymity and secrecy which is the clear cut principle of a secret ballot.
However, voters believe that these devices are required to capture all the events of that day as they will ensure transparency incase of any unethical behavior like rigging and voter fraud.