Juba, South Sudan \u2014\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nSince gaining independence in 2011, South Sudanese residents have been working to build their country, the world’s youngest nation.<\/p>\n
However, many citizens fear a technicality \u2014 the lack of a required National Identification Card \u2014 may block them from participating in the country’s first planned democratic elections in December.<\/p>\n
Registration for the polls begins in less than two months.<\/p>\n
“I don’t think they will allow those without an ID to vote,” said a young man, who asked to be identified only as Alex for safety reasons.<\/p>\n
Alex, who is a resident of Magwi in the state of Eastern Equatoria, told VOA he has made repeated trips to the immigration offices in the capital, Juba, to get a National Identification Card.<\/p>\n
After three failed attempts, Alex became worried he would be locked out of the upcoming election.<\/p>\n
“The first challenge I face is the distance,” he said. “Secondly is the finance, because traveling from this end to Juba is a bit costly.”<\/p>\n
Leaders will identify voters<\/strong><\/p>\nTer Manyang Gatwech, the executive director of the Center for Peace in Juba, said getting an ID card should be a routine matter.<\/p>\n
“Every citizen should have access to a national ID,” said Gatwech. “This is a concern because getting an ID in this country is quite expensive. For you to vote, you must have ID.”<\/p>\n
Gatwech said the government should give citizens national IDs free of charge.<\/p>\n
But South Sudan has no plans to issue ID cards to everyone. A spokesperson for the country’s elections commission, George Lemi, said that during voter registration, the commission may hire local administrators to confirm people’s identities.<\/p>\n
“To be eligible to vote, you must be 18 years and above,” said Lemi. “You must be a national \u2014 which is having a national ID or passport.”<\/p>\n
Lemi said that if one doesn’t have an ID card and is South Sudanese, local leaders can “come and prove and identify you, to give you [a] way or to approve you.”<\/p>\n
Elections set for December<\/strong><\/p>\nSouth Sudan’s elections were originally scheduled for 2015, four years after it separated from Sudan. However, the country’s civil war and delay in creating a constitution forced the election to be deferred several times.<\/p>\n
Now, according to the South Sudan 2023 National Elections Act, voter registration will begin six months before elections, in June.<\/p>\n
The elections are scheduled for December 22. For the first time, South Sudanese will get the chance to vote for a president, members of parliament, and several state and local offices.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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