NEO has to make sure that those to be registered
- are 20 years old;
- have been resident in the council area for at least 6 months;
- have been carrying out an economic activity for at least five consecutive years;
- have Cameroonian nationality or be a naturalized Cameroonian.
(section 7(1), (2) of law no. 92-002 of 14 August 1992 and sections 11, 12 and 13 of law no. 91-020 of 16 December 1991)
NEO also has to:
- make sure that registration takes place from January 1st – December 31st each year until electors are convened, except for transferred public servants. ( See law no. 97-006 of 10 January 1997 to determine the period for the revision and recompilation of registers of electors, amending section 53 of law no. 91-020 of 16 December. 1991) There must be annual revision of voters registers;
- make sure that every member of the armed forces and every member having that status can register at his unit or home port without residence conditions;
- make sure that every citizen who shows that his name is on the income tax assessment list of a given administrative unit for the fifth consecutive year can have his name entered on the register of electors provided his application is approved by the administrative authority of his jurisdiction;
- ensure that Cameroonians settled abroad can be entitled to have their names registered on the register of electors on which they were registered prior to their departure from Cameroon. (sections 11 to 14 of law no. 91-20) ;
- make sure that ex-convicts cannot register (section 15 of law no. 91-20);
- ensure that in every council, sub-division or district, there shall be a commission charged with the revision of registers of electors and distribution of registration cards. (sections 29 and 30(1) of law no. 91-20) ;
- make sure that any citizen who satisfies the age and residence requirements to be registered as an elector and whose name is omitted from the register can apply to the sub-divisional officer outside the fixed dates for annual revision of registers. NEO must follow-up to ensure these cases get treated, (section 53(a)).
It is also the role of NEO to:
- make sure that unqualified voters are expunged from the registers of voters. (Section 54 of law no. 91-20, also see section 15);
- make sure that only the National Identity Cards, whether computerized or not, as well as receipts of computerized I.D Cards are used for purposes of registration;
- be in contact with the commission charged with the revision of election registers to make sure that:
- it draws up electoral registers,
- it identifies registration centres,
- it draws up a timetable ,
- it organizes registration in the councils,
- it produces registration forms and distributes registration cards;
- make sure all electors whose names are entered on the register of electors are issued registration cards. (section 49 of law N°92-10) Registration cards should not be issued from private homes, Ministries or Delegations;
- hear all claims or protests concerning electoral registers and registration cards not resolved by the competent supervisory committee;
- order the necessary corrections to be made following an examination by NEO of the claims or protests against acts of the administrative authorities or mixed electoral commissions concerning electoral registers and registration cards.
Authorities responsible for managing electoral registers:
Commissions charged with the revision of the register of electors. (section 29(1) of law N° 91-20).
Composition:
Chairman:
A representative of the administration appointed by the Senior Divisional Officer (SDO*).
Members:
- The Mayor or a Deputy Mayor or Municipal Councillor appointed by the Mayor or
- Municipal Administrator or a Municipal Councillor appointed by the Municipal Administrator,
- A representative of each legally authorized Political Party operating within the jurisdiction of the council or Sub-Division (section 29(2) of law no 91-20).
2. Supervisory Commissions (Law n° 92/002 section 13) composition
Chairman An independent personality appointed by the SDO in agreement with all political parties standing elections in the constituency.
Members:
- Five representatives of the Administration appointed by the Senior Divisional Officer;
- Five representatives of political parties.
* In this document SDO means Senior Divisional Officer (Prefect), while DO means Division Officer (Sub-Prefect)
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