SSRB Chief Insists That All Registered Southerners Must Vote

8 November 2010 – (Juba) – The chairman of the Southern Sudan Referendum Bureau says unless the 60% turn-out requirement is met, southerners are likely to influence negatively the results of the referendum.

According to the Referendum Act, the referendum results will not be legal and the vote will be repeated within sixty days from the date of the declaration of the final results if the 60% of registered voters do not vote.

Addressing reporters in Juba on Saturday, Chan Reech appealed to civil society organizations to educate the public about the importance to a huge voter-turnout.

[Chan Reech]: “The importance of registering and voting at the same time because as you all know, the 60% threshold is a problem. Unless we register and vote, we are likely to influence negatively the result of the referendum. During the referendum as you all know, some people got registered but they didn’t turn up to vote. If we do the same during the referendum, it is going to erode the 60% and we will regret it. So, make sure that while you are doing the civic education, tell the people that it is very important for any body who has registered to turn up and vote.”

Reech went on to reveal that the Bureau has been provided with an airplane by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems or to facilitate the activities of the bureau.

[Chan Reech]: “I’m happy to tell you that one of our partners, IFES, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems has provided us with a plane that will be at our disposal. Anywhere we go, we will go immediately. We will have our test flight to Kapoeta either on Monday or Tuesday.”

Last week, the GOSS provided the Bureau 90 vehicles to facilitate the referendum process.