IEC hires retired citizens as presiding officers
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) will consider hiring retired citizens as Presiding or Polling Officers for this year’s general election expected in October.
Jeff Siamisang, the IEC Secretary has advised that recruitment of election officials be commenced and concluded immediately.
“Firstly, we would like to recognise retired citizens as a resource which can be used to tap on the experience that they have. You are therefore, advised to engage retired citizens in your area of jurisdiction to serve as Presiding or Polling Officers.
“Those engaged should not be actively engaged in politics and should not be having any relative(s) standing as candidates in the 2024 General Elections,” Siamisang said in a Savingram to Chief Elections Officers, Field Operations Principal Elections Officer I dated 22nd July 2024.
The secretary stated that secondly, District Commissioners and Council Secretaries are to be engaged as Returning Officers at Constituency level while other responsible and accountable officers in the District are to be appointed as Returning Officers for the Polling Districts or other roles.
Those recommended for appointment, he said, should be robust, trustworthy and energetic to execute their functions effectively.
He stated that for the recruitment to be done fairly and in a transparent manner, each District should have a Recruitment Committee to look at the applications from retired citizens, as well as the names submitted from Departments and recommend to the Secretary for appointment.
“The following selection criteria should be considered when recruiting poll staff: Responsible and active retired officials who are not involved in active politics “Permanent and Pensionable Public Officers. However, in exceptional cases, Recruitment Committees may consider temporary employees, Intern Officers and Government Volunteer Scheme participants, Officers who are impartial and not active in politics, Officers with Botho, in good standing
and consistently displaying good conduct, Officers with no pending disciplinary cases.
“(NB: disciplinary cases would be limited to acts of theft, misappropriation of funds, late coming, unauthorised absence from work, unbecoming conduct and behaviour, intoxication in the workplace and neglect of duty) Officers who are energetic and are able to work long hours Officers with past experience in the conduct of elections would also have an added advantage” Siamisang explained.
The IEC Secretary also advised that as much as it is practicably possible, poll staff must not come from one profession, Ministry or Department, but from across the Public Service.
Moreover, as a cost-effective measure, poll staff should be assigned to places where they work. Where feasible, they should also be assigned to places where they have registered as voters, Siamisang said.