Malawi will now be able to verify thoire voter registration status using mobile phones and web platform ahead of the Tripartite polls in May 20th.
“Registered voters in the upcoming Tripartite elections scheduled for 20 May, 2014 can now send a FREE short-message-service (SMS) to a designated short-code and instantly receive details of where they are registered to vote,” explained Levi Kabwato Malawi Election Information Centre (MEIC) Project Manager responsible for Media and Publicity.
MEIC is carrying out the project in conjunction with the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) with technical assistance coming from SMAG Media UK, Ltd. and Code For Africa.
The first phase of the mobile verification platform will be available for voters in Balaka, Machinga, Mangochi, Mulanje, Nkhotakota, Salima and all districts in the Northern Region of Malawi.
MEC’s Director of Media and Public Relations Sangwani Mwafulirwa explained that in order to verify voters’ registration status, the user of the service must send an SMS with their voter identification number 5VOTE (58683) which is FREE of charge on both Airtel and TNM, Malawi’s only two mobile networks.
To receive voter registration details in ChiChewa – one of the local languages, a registered voter will type CHE123456789 (CHE for ChiChewa + the voter’s nine digit ID Number) and send an SMS to 58683.
to receive voter registration details in ChiTumbuka, a registered voter will type TUM123456789 (TUM for ChiTumbuka + the voter’s nine digit ID Number) and send an SMS to 58683.
While to receive voter registration details in English, a registered voter will type only their voter ID (example: 123456789) and send an SMS to 58683.
that to verify your voter registration status online, one has to go to http://gottovote.malawivote2014.org and follow the instructions outlined.
“Registered voters are able to verify their details up to three times. Those who find inconsistencies against their voter records are advised to contact their nearest MEC office for assistance as no corrections or queries regarding voter information will be accepted by the system,” explained Mwafulirwa.
He however explained that Mobile and web verification is only available to registered voters belonging to constituencies where MEC will be conducting voter verification exercises ahead of the polls.