ELECTORAL COMMISSION ACT

PART III-FUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF THE COMMISSION
Functions and powers of the commission





No. 24 of 1996
8.
1.
In addition to the broad functions and powers conferred on the Commission by the Constitution and, subject to the Constitution, the Commission shall exercise general direction and supervision over the conduct of every election and, without prejudice to the generality of such functions and powers, it shall have the following further functions -
  1. to determine the number of constituencies for the purposes of elections;
  2. to undertake or supervise the demarcation of boundaries of constituencies;
  3. subject to the Local Government Elections Act, 1996 and any other written law relating to local government elections, to undertake or supervise the demarcation of wards for purposes of local government elections and to determine the number of such wards; but so however that in demarcating wards the Commission shall have regard to population density, geographical features, easy communication and the wishes of the people, and shall ensure that ward boundaries do not cross local authority boundaries;
  4. to organize and direct the registration of voters;
  5. to devise and establish voters registers and ballot papers;
  6. to print, distribute and take charge of ballot papers and voters registers;
  7. to approve and procure ballot boxes;
  8. to establish and operate polling stations;
  9. to establish security conditions necessary for the conduct of every election in accordance with any written law governing elections;
  10. to promote public awareness of electoral matters through the media and other appropriate and effecti ve means and to conduct civic and voter education on such matters;
  11. to promote and conduct research into electoral matters and into any matter pertaining to its functions and to publish the results of such research;
  12. to perform the functions conferred upon it by or under any written law; and
  13. to take measures and to do such other things as are necessary for conducting free and fair elections.
2.
For purposes of discharging the functions and exercising the powers conferred upon it by the Constitution, this Act or any other written law relating to elections, the Commission shall freely communicate with the Government and any political party or any candidate, person or organization.

Delegation of powers and functions 9. The Commission may delegate to any of its committees, the Chief Elections Officer or other employee of the Commission all or any of its powers and functions.

Vacancy in the membership of the commission 10. Subject to the Constitution and to section II (3), any vacancy in the membership of the Commission shall not affect its decissions, the performance of its functions or the exercise of its powers under the Constitution, this Act or any other written law.

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