Focus: Are you ready to use your voter card?

Agnes, 19, will be voting for the first time on September 15. But she is yet to receive her voters card. She explains: “I registered to vote but I am yet to pick that card. Maybe I will get it next week.” While Agnes is not yet in possession of her card, she at least knows how to use it. Many others are not so well informed about the relevance of the voter card. That is what I discover when I talked to Mukamusoni, 29, a student at the School of Finance and Banking at Mbura Buturo in Gikondo. She says that this is the second time for her to vote. “The last time we voted, it was just a matter of lining up and you would vote without the need to produce the voters’ card.” She seems not to understand the relevance of the voter’s card this time round. She asks: “what are we going to use these cards for?” Of course in such situations some one will always want to portray themselves as the all knowing. One guy who goes by the name Kamanda was at hand to render unsolicited advice. Having eavesdropped on our conversation, he added, “the card is where you will put a tick or your thumb print.” Kamanda thought we were some of the dumbest people that had ever lived on this planet. But unfortunately for him, he was wrong and obviously the dumb one. I waited a few seconds, cleared my throat and proceeded to explain to him the use of the voter card and what it will be required for. Though I was not completely sure of what the electoral commission had in mind when they decided to introduce the card, I assured the guy that he was far from the truth and should first check his facts before volunteering his ignorance. I told him that the cards were for ensuring that those registered as voters are the ones to vote. In general the cards are to ensure a free and fair ballot. He seemed unconvinced and as I left, I was sure still not everyone was aware of the relevance and importance of the voter card. However, I realised that some people are aware of the importance of the card this is the first time they will be using the card. Edwin, a journalist, went on to show me a brownish stretch on the card that when you scratch it, turns white and then slowly reverts to the brownish color. This is something few are aware of but I was able to gather it is for proving the authenticity of the voter’s card. His journalistic background probably enabled him to investigate the features of the card. Said Edwin: “I have also talked to some people about the elections, but few seem to understand or appreciate the importance of the new voter cards.” John, 26, a resident of Kicukiro, says that he was not so keen on the voter card. “I for one never went out of my way to look for the card; somebody just picked it for me.” His buddy, Mukombozi, said that although some people do not entirely understand the importance of the card there are many more that really appreciate it due to the civic education that has been ongoing since the inception of the electoral commission. “People were not so informed during the elections five years ago but now there has been an improvement,” says Mukombozi. He says this goes for all the things involved in the electioneering process including the use of voter cards for the first time. Contact: frank2kagabo2@yahoo.com