South Sudan NEC Unveils Voter Registration Book for Elections

South Sudans National Elections Commission (NEC) has unveiled a voter registration book as part of preparations for the countrys planned general elections. The registration book, approved by the commissions board on Monday, will be used by registration officials to record and maintain voters details during the registration process. Speaking at a news conference in the capital, Juba, on Tuesday, NEC chairperson Gabriel Bol Deng Majok said the commission would announce the date for voter registration once preparations are complete. I am happy to report to the people of South Sudan and you, our wonderful media, that the board has approved [the] registration form. When we announce the voter registration date, you will go and be registered, Bol said. He said the registration book contains the NEC logo, the names of South Sudans 10 states and three administrative areas, as well as serial numbers for registration records. The book also includes information such as the geographical area where a voter will cast their ballot and the registration centre. This is what is called a registration book, Bol said, explaining how the book would be used to record voters details. Funding for elections Bol, who was recently appointed chairperson of the commission, said the institution had so far received $25m from the government to support the electoral process. He said the Ministry of Finance had assured the commission that additional funds would be released in the coming days to support voter registration and other preparations. So far, what we have received from the government is $25m. But the government has a commitment to release more funding in the next few days so that we start our registration, he said. The NEC plans to begin printing voter registration books this week and distribute them to the 10 states and three administrative areas once sufficient copies are available. Bol said the commission would not wait for all the books to be printed before beginning distribution. The most important thing was to approve the form. So we have already approved [it]. This week we will print it, he said. He added that the commission would announce the voter registration date after enough registration materials had been distributed to registration centres. Bol said the commission had already identified and assessed voter registration centres across the country. We have already done assessment of registration centres. And now we know them. We are going to publish them, he said. He said the centres would receive registration books as they became available, after which the commission would set a date for the start of voter registration. South Sudan’s National Elections Commission has set 22 December 2026 as the date for the general elections. The law allows the incumbent president to remain in office and exercise executive powers during the election period, while vice-presidents and other members of the executive leave office.