Niger Launches Census to Update Electoral Roll

The government of Niger on Thursday launched a national census to update the electoral roll ahead of the 2009 general polls. The Nigerien authorities therefore declared Thursday 19 June as a public holiday in the country’s 265 communes.

Slated from 19 June to 3 July 2008, the electoral census, estimated at 2.6 billion CFA francs, covers the eight regions of Niger, chairman of the national committee to update the electoral roll (CNRFE) Moumouni Hamidou noted.

Hamidou stressed that the operations include the northern region of Agadez, which hosts the Nigerien Movement for Justice (MNJ) rebellion.

Each team is composed of one enumerator and representatives of political parties as well as traditional leaders and the operation will be carried out under the door-to-door system, Hamidou said.

Addressing the national political dialogue council (CNDP), which groups all Nigerien political parties, Hamidou said “the funds dedicated to the electoral census are enough to launch the operation”.

Nigerien voters will use a single ballot paper during the general polls scheduled in late 2009, in accordance with the new electoral code adopted on 10 June.

The main innovations in the new electoral code include extending the town councilors’ tenure from four to five years, updating the census file, and extending the distribution of voting cards from one to two months.

Source African Press Agency

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