Zimbabwe Looking to Automatically Register 18-Year-Olds to Vote

Zimbabwe is set to introduce automatic voter registration for 18-year-olds ahead of the 2028 elections. The move is expected to boost voter participation and streamline the electoral process and government skeptics believe the disinterest young people have on these matters will see the system vote for them.

The new system, proposed by the government, will shift the responsibility of voter registration from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to the Civil Registry Department (CRD).

How it Works

Under the proposed system, the CRD will use personal and biometric data collected when citizens apply for national ID cards to automatically register eligible voters.

Let’s be honest, we all are surprised they even hold on to our biometric data. If you ever want to see a police officer keel over with laughter, ask him to dust for fingerprints when there’s been a theft. Apparently, that’s a ridiculous request even though he government supposedly has all our biometrics.

Anyway, citizens can apply for a national ID card at 16, but are only eligible to vote once they turn 18. Voters will be assigned to a specific polling station based on their registered residential address.

Key Benefits:

• Increased Voter Participation: Automatic voter registration makes it easier for eligible citizens to participate in elections.
• Improved Accuracy: Integrating information from government databases reduces errors and ensures voters are registered at their current address.
• Reduced Costs: Automatic registration minimizes the need for physical outreach and paperwork.
• Enhanced Security: Keeping voters’ rolls up-to-date with current government data reduces the potential for fraud or mismanagement.
• Supports Youth Engagement: Automatic registration enhances youth political engagement by reducing the gap between eligibility and actual listing.

Streamlining Electoral Management

The proposed amendments also aim to revoke ZEC’s role in delimiting constituency boundaries, returning this duty to an independent commission. This change is expected to streamline election management and better integrate the voters’ roll with civil registry records.

My two cents

The benefits are clear for everyone to see. We could finally see our biometrics be put to use in some way, at least the young among us will.

We all long for the integration of government databases. It has long been reported that government departments are silos and they don’t really share data.

Maybe initiatives like these could force some cooperation. Hopefully, that will spark a flame and before we know it, data is free-flowing across government departments and even into the private world.

Also read:

• Zanu PF at it again, sending unsolicited messages to voters. Where do they get our numbers?
• It’s high time voter registration became available online