Letters to Cameroon Concord: Cameroon Electoral System and Voter Registration

Cameroon Electoral System and voter Registration.

                        What can possibly go wrong between 2016 – 2018 ?

 In all best analysis, research and forecast, the period 2016 – 2018 will certainly be the showdown to Cameroons democratic transition or succession. The faces can be from smooth electoral process to violent confrontation when the rules are infringed in the eyes of the people. The last supper of our Lucifer’s is at hand by faith or design. 

I strongly hold the opinion that for any revolution to be part of the change, our political forces i.e. the civil society activists and Opposition parties should start laying the grounds for mass civil participation or a justified cause for physical reaction and firm resistance to any democratic malpractices. A major point of contention is found in the electoral system and voter participation. They should start sensitizing the populace now.

On paper Cameroon is having the best models in young democratic settings as in,

The Constitution, Electoral code, Penal and Civil Code. Their implementation or application is where the CPDM regime under Mr. Biya has been smart in violating or twisting since 1982.

        The single round majority system is welcome for practicalities, ease and cost.

But the number of political parties should be limited which I still call on the opposition parties to have a platform of participation to counter the   jangoism of The CPDM presidential majority that will be mounted soon. Mr. Biya will not be a part of this game his main task now is laying grounds for an exit formula or a successor that will be friendly to his past deeds. Thus the fight shall be a fresh battle.

 This is the time the Opposition parties and civil society to hammer on voter registration,

electoral register, its revision and the issuance of voter cards as in sections 51-82 of the electoral code. The success of most young leaders today is their ability to convene young electors to participate. Kenya, Ghana, America, France, UK etc.  The voter age in Cameroon is 20. A watch should be on the electronic or biometrics in our identification system. While this is welcome, facts has proven that it has failed from inception on national ID Cards and Passport delivery. This is the data that will be use to ease voter registration, caution should be taken because opposition strongholds can  easily disenfranchised. Technology in elections is welcome but in young democracies the terrain and country specifics, communication is not yet ready for such an operation, Optical scanning in vote counting failed in Canada and Ukraine not long ago and even caused chaos in  USA in the past. Any attempt to use it in Cameroon will lead to mass fraud and intentional distortion of records by CPDM operators.

The issue of external voting should be fast organized according to country density of Cameroonians abroad, because of cost ,logistics and security .The system in external voting should be discussed now whether , E voting , postal or proxy. 

Sensitizing the population to participate will give them a strong sense and just course for a revolution and physical resistance when they sense cheated , Even the military  know when a cause is just . For a physical show down even the last option.  

All opinions to Cameroon Concord are published unedited