VOTER’S EDUCATION FOR COMMUNITY WOMEN

WEPBI carried out a voter’s education to community women in Amokwe, Ndeaboh and Ikpamodo respectively in Enugu State. The sensitization was to enlighten the community women on the importance of voter’s registration. With the help of the facilitator, Mr. Nebo Collins who engaged the women on what voter’s education is all about stated that voter’s registration is the process of determining who is eligible to vote. The procedure for registering voters differs greatly from country to country. When people achieve voting age or move to a new place in some countries, they are automatically registered to vote. This type of registration is known as passive voter registration. In other countries, voters must register using unique methods. This type of registration is known as active voter registration. Citizens should also have a reasonable opportunity to complete or update their registration with the government. Furthermore, voters must be informed in advance of where, when, and how to register or update their information in the voter registration database by the relevant authority.

WHY DO WE NEED TO VOTE?

The voter registration process has three goals:

Voter registration makes sure eligible citizens have a real opportunity to vote;
Voter registration prevents ineligible people from voting; and
Voter registration should prevent multiple voting.

A fair voter registration process promotes political equality and actively encourages the participation of all eligible voters. Voter registration is critical to election administration. When the voter registration process is of high quality, it can boost the overall validity of the process. On the other hand, if the voter registration process is of poor quality – or is perceived to be of poor quality – it can call into question the credibility of the entire electoral process. Access to registration process information is critical to a citizen’s ability to register and evaluate the electoral process. Civil society organizations frequently use voter registration statistics to access whether the overall process was successful.

The importance of voter’s education to community women is to increase the number of women voting in election and also to enhance the inclusion of women in politics there by motivating women to support other women aspirant. When women vote they determine the outcome of the election.

PICTURE SNIPPETS FROM AMOKWE COMMUNITY ACTIVITY