EC clarifies on Polling Kits with Broken Seals

The Electoral Commission has clarified on the concerns of various stakeholders about the condition of some polling kits which have been delivered to districts with broken seals, explaining that this happened in transit to different districts.

According to Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon the Chairperson, Electoral Commission, they have established that seals on some of the polling kits broke during the transportation from the Commission’s main warehouse in Kampala to the respective district facilities.

“The breakage is a result of impact of stacked metal boxes sealed with plastic seals, pressing against each other, during transportation. As a measure to ensure integrity and transparence of the process, stakeholders in the respective districts are briefed before the offloading begins. Any box that is found with a broken seal gets a replacement, and the serial numbers of both the old and the new seals are recorded” he clarified.

Adding that this is done after ascertaining that the contents of the polling kit are all intact.

A full polling kit includes items like; Two (2) spare seals to take care of emergency (breakage) during transportation, Ballot Papers (sealed), Declaration Results Forms (sealed), Polling Register (National Voters’ Register for the respective Polling Stations), Generic Polling Forms which include Accountability of Ballot Papers, Official Report Book, and Generic materials such as the ink pad, indelible ink, pens, among others.

The Chairman further assured all stakeholders that the polling kit remains sealed up to the time of delivery at the polling station where the Presiding Officer will open it, on the morning of polling day, and in the presence of ten (10) registered voters at the respective polling station.

Political parties and candidates have been urged to appoint agents to observe the safe custody of the polling kit, until the same is delivered to the respective polling stations on polling day.