EC Investigates Source of Ballot Papers Used to Wrap Groceries

The Electoral Commission is investigating the source of ballot papers that have been turned into envelopes and are being used to wrap food stuffs in Kampala.

 

The ballot papers were for the National Youth elections.

The EC ordered an investigation over one week ago after the electoral materials that it was supposed to securely keep were being recycled without their knowledge and used to wrap deep fried cassava, samosa and pancakes among others. 

During the national Youth elections, the EC came up with a generic ballot paper printed on A3 paper which has all registered political parties and different symbols of independent candidates.

EC deputy spokesperson; Paul Bukenya confirmed the on-going investigations saying the commission had requested all its Returning Officers to file returns for the ballot papers used in the youth elections.

Section 52 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, requires that the EC takes custody of all electoral materials and also stipulates how they should be disposed of.

Surprised at the existence of ballot papers on the open market, Bukenya said the EC was trying to find the source of the materials.

//Cue in: “Right now…

Cue out: ...leakage.”//

Bukenya says electoral materials can only be disposed of after hearing election petitions adding that though the EC had not received any petitions in the youth elections, no disposal of ballot papers had been authorized.

According to Bukenya, the EC has already started received returns filled by Returning Officers and expect that the investigations would be complete in two weeks time.

When asked what the EC thinks of the fact that the ballot papers were outside, Bukenya accepted the mistake but added that the Commission had acceptable practices that would be used to determine the point of leakage.

He, however, could not tell how much ballot papers had been printed but explained that EC had ordered and received quantities they had asked for.

//Cue in: “The materials are…

Cue out: …that.”//

Bukenya explained that the EC believes in recycling ballot papers but added these particular ballot papers were not being used for the purpose they were produced for.