The National Assembly Committee on Constitutional Laws on April 3, 2012 examined the bill on the electoral code. Presented in the plenary sitting of April 2, 2012 chaired by House Speaker, Hon. Cavaye Yeguie Djibril, the bill has key innovations intended to correct the shortcomings and constraints that characterised previous elections.
It brings together in a single and coherent document the regulations governing all elections provided for by the Constitution including that of the Head of State, Members of Parliament, Senators, Regional and Municipal Councillors and the conduct of referendums.
Elections Cameroon
Government in the bill reiterates that Elections Cameroon (ELELCAM) is an independent body in charge of the organisation, management and supervision of the entire electoral process. As an innovation, it asserts the authority of the Electoral Board of ELECAM over the General Directorate of Elections. The bill clearly states that the Electoral Board is the supervisory and control body. It makes provision for the institution of a special appropriation, included in the Finance Law, to be used to cover certain expenses of the Electoral Board that range from monthly remuneration to sitting allowances and expenses. Elections Cameroon, following the bill, will be entitled to an annual budget and election budgets in election years.
Electoral Registers
The bill states that the revision of electoral registers shall henceforth be the main function of ELECAM and shall also involve administrative services and political parties within the framework of commissions set up for the purpose. It states that a receipt shall be issued to each person upon registration. Voters’ cards shall henceforth be biometric. The period for correcting and checking provisional registers is from September to December.
Deposits for Candidates
Government has proposed FCFA 30 million as the deposit each candidate for the presidency has to pay as against FCFA 5 million in the October 9, 2011 presidential election. For parliamentary elections, the bill proposes FCFA 5 million per candidate compared to FCFA 500,000 in the 2007 election. Each candidate for the post of municipal councillor will have to pay a deposit of FCFA 100,000 as opposed to FCFA 25,000 in the July 22, 2007 election.
