U.S. supports Uganda Electoral Commission with online voter registration list.

U.S. supports Uganda Electoral Commission with online voter registration list.

On Wednesday, August 25, 2010, the Ugandan Electoral Commission launched its first ever online voter registry in conjuction with the United States Government (USG) through its development agency the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The online system strives to enhance transparency and accountability of the election management process and aims to increase voter confidence in advance of the upcoming 2011 general elections.  The enhanced voter registry online system allows individual voters to verify their registration status and polling station assignment and enables political parties and civil society organizations to print voter registration lists for individual polling stations throughout the country via the internet.

In his speech, the U.S. Ambassador to Uganda, Jerry P. Lanier noted that, “In addition to rendering the voter registry more transparent and accessible, posting this document online should boost voter confidence in Uganda’s electoral processes, improve the effectiveness of the  voter registration display process that is now underway, reduce confusion over polling assignments and registration status on election day, and reinforce the foundations necessary for free and fair elections.”

The online voter registry is part of the USG’s ongoing support with democracy and governance in Uganda though a $600,000 USAID grant to the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) to work with the Electoral Commission to develop a secure website at www.nvr.ec.or.ug and post the full Uganda Voter Registration List online.