The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in Limpopo is busy with preparations for next month’s provincial and national elections. The number of voter stations has increased and with this, the IEC has also had to increase the number of electoral staff. Provincial Electoral Officer Nkaro Mateta says the process to appoint senior electoral officers is underway.
She says some have been recruited and they are under-going training. The requirements include experience in supervision and management.
“And we are already rolling out training for these officials. That includes presiding officers, deputy presiding officers as well as voter’s roll officers. We will recruit 40 000 election officers for the 2014 National and Provincial elections.”
The voting stations have increased from 2 700 in the 2009 elections, to more than 3 000. Mateta says electoral staff will increase from 20 000 to more than 35 000.
The screening process ensures that IEC workers are impartial
Local residents are being considered to man the voting stations and Mateta adds that the minimum qualification for field workers is Matric.
She says the screening process ensures that IEC workers are impartial.
The criteria are that presiding and deputy presiding officers must not have in the last five years been in office as an election candidate or played an active role in a political party.
In addition, the officers should not have had political affiliation or aims.
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