Elections can be held with 5.4 million registered people - ELECAM

The body in charge of organizing elections in Cameroon, Elections Cameroon (ELECAM), has revealed that elections can be held anytime with 5.4 million registered voters (5,389,594 to be exact).

"The electoral roll must be ready at any time. That's why we have 5.4 million registered since the process began and if there is an election at any time, we can go with that number”, said Sani Mohaman Tanimou, the CEO of ELECAM at a press conference on Friday May 15.

According to data of the referendum structure, those eligible for voting in Cameroon are around nine million despite the country’s population of over 22 million inhabitants. Young people aged at least 20 years will be given a voter card.

"If we are already at 5.5 million, this means that in 2018, if 1.5 million more people are added, we can cater for the seven million voters”, ELECAM CEO continued.

By January 2, 2015, ELECAM stated that 99,446 people registered on the electoral roll of which 60,858 were men and 38,608 women.

ELECAM revealed the youth aged 20 to 35 were the most registered and are 75,213 in number. However those in the diaspora have shown coyness for now.

“With the 2011 presidential election, there were 24,372 voters. But since the beginning of the consolidation of the lists, there are about 7991 registered in the diaspora. This is far different from the presidential figures”, qualmed Mohaman Sani Tanimou.

The last election held in Cameroon was in 2011 and the next should be held in 2018, including the presidential one.

As part of its electoral operation and revision lists, this is a process which takes place every year from January 1 to August 31.