By Buba Gagigo
Hon. Alagie Mbowe, the National Assembly Member for Upper Saloum Constituency, has proposed that Gambians use national ID cards or passports for voting instead of voter cards, arguing that the current system is a waste of resources.
“For me personally, I am of the view that there’s no need to have a voter’s card. I think it is a waste of resources. What you need is an ID card or a passport. You go and register with them, and they have you on the voter list,” Mbowe told Kerr Fatou. “When you come to vote in Upper Saloum for example, you bring your ID card or passport and they verify. In fact that is the criteria, citizenship, over 18 years then passport or ID card to verify. At a time to register to vote, you bring your ID card or passport then IEC verify.”
He stated that the IEC is not responsible for determining whether someone is Gambian, but rather for verifying the documents presented to them.“If the ID card, passport or voters card, they are looking for the same attestation that gives it to them, why will you say I can get an attestation to get an ID card or passport, but I cannot get an attestation to get a voters card? To me, it doesn’t make sense,” he said.
Hon. Mbowe also highlighted the financial challenges many Gambians face in acquiring ID cards, particularly in rural areas.
“If we want to reduce this attestation or to eliminate it completely, and stick with the ID card or the passport for registration to vote, then let’s subsidize the cost of the ID card by the government, because these are national documents. Now, somebody in Upper Saloum who farms to get maybe three or four thousand for the whole year. You have a family to feed, it’s going to be very difficult for you to take D500 to go and get an ID card. It’s difficult. Some actually have, but I can tell you, still now, a big chunk of people in my area do not have an ID card, not because they don’t want to, but because of the cost. Now, if we are able to reduce the cost of the ID card significantly, particularly in the rural areas, Then, this issue of attestation will be reduced because they will get it,” explained.