The Western Equatoria State High Elections Commission (SHEC) says it has received election materials and is preparing for voter registration ahead of South Sudan’s planned December 2026 general elections.
Simon Bakama, chairperson of the state commission, told Radio Tamazuj on Thursday that preparations were under way following training and meetings with the National Elections Commission (NEC) in Juba.
Bakama said the commission is identifying independent personnel to conduct voter registration across the state’s counties. Their names will be submitted to the NEC for approval before an official registration date is announced.
Registration centres
Voter registration will be conducted across the country at county, payam and boma levels, rather than being limited to the capital, Bakama said.
He said the state commission had received materials to support the exercise, including about 1,300 registration materials, 1,000 T-shirts, 40 high-quality T-shirts and 300 letters, among other items.
The registration centres identified for the exercise are the same centres used during previous elections and are being prepared for the upcoming polls, he added.
Bakama urged residents to prepare for registration and participate once the NEC announces the official registration date.
Stakeholder coordination
Meanwhile, the state commission’s spokesperson Simon Sarawasi said the commission was working with government institutions and other stakeholders to prepare the public for the elections.
He said institutions such as the airport and other public bodies will play an important role in the electoral process.
Sarawasi called for a unified message to the public and urged stakeholders to understand their responsibilities and work closely with the elections commission.
He said better coordination would help ensure that the public receive clear and accurate information about voter registration and the electoral process.
He also urged the public and other stakeholders to cooperate with the state commission and support preparations for the elections.
South Sudan’s general elections are scheduled for 22 December 2026.
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