The Electoral Commission (EC) has Thursday unveiled the program for long awaited Local Council (LC) one elections.
EC chairman Justice Simon Byabakama told journalists at the head offices that the exercise will begin in October and end in November.
“Elections for the Local Council One will be held on November 21, 2017,” Justice Byabakama said.
He said the polling will follow registration of residents into a voters’ register scheduled for November 26 and 30; followed by a display of voter’s register, nomination and campaigning.
Unlike other polls, LC1 elections will not be by a secret ballot.
“The election shall be by voters lining behind the nominated candidates or their representatives, “Justice Byabakama said quoting section 111 (2) of the Local Government Act.
He added that voters will line up and behind their preferred candidate and vote counting will take 30 minutes.
Justice Byabakama said that from 7am to 11 am, there will be assembly and verification of the voters by the village presiding officer followed by voter education, before the actual polling and counting of votes kicks off at 11am to 11:30am.
Asked whether the 30 minutes will be enough for the entire process, the Electoral Commission boss said the process cannot take the entire day but a limited period of time.
“We thought 30 minutes will be enough to avoid people keeping in the line for long. Thirty minutes is reasonable time.”
EC estimates to spend Shs 12.17bn on both LC one and LC2 polls.