Election Watchdog Calls for Stronger Legal Protections for Workers’ Right to Vote Across Africa

As the world observes International Workers’ Day, the Election Resource Centre (ERC) Africa has issued a strong call to African governments to enact and enforce legislation that safeguards the voting rights of workers.

The ERC, a prominent organization dedicated to promoting democratic integrity across the continent, highlighted concerns that current electoral processes often present practical barriers for working individuals seeking to exercise their fundamental right to vote.

By Vongai Masuka

In a statement released today, the ERC emphasized that while elections are central to democratic governance and require the participation of all citizens, logistical challenges frequently encountered during electoral periods disproportionately affect workers.

Issues such as delays in the delivery of voting materials, long queues at polling stations, and insufficient polling places can create significant obstacles for those with limited time away from their jobs on election day.

“Limited time away from work on election days may inadvertently infringe upon workers’ voting rights,” the ERC stated, urging Election Management Bodies (EMBs), Parliaments, and Ministries responsible for Justice and Elections across Africa to proactively address this critical issue.

“Full citizen participation in democracy is crucial, necessitating policies that empower marginalized communities. The ERC emphasizes the active inclusion of workers, a significant group in this region of participatory democracy.” Reads the statement.

The ERC specifically recommended two key measures to ensure workers can participate fully in democratic processes, the introduction of provisions allowing employees to take a specified leave of absence on polling day for the explicit purpose of voting and a comprehensive review of the definition of individuals eligible for postal or special voting mechanisms.

The ERC suggests expanding these options to include a broader range of citizens facing constraints, such as individuals with disabilities, senior citizens, expectant mothers, polling personnel, and essential service workers.

The organization also proposed considering early voting as a more robust alternative to proxy voting.

The ERC further stressed the importance of ensuring that all special ballots cast through alternative voting arrangements are duly counted and aggregated with the votes cast on election day, underscoring the need for the full implementation of these inclusive measures.

The organization’s statement emphasized that the early dissemination of updated electoral legislation is crucial for preventing misunderstandings and disputes among stakeholders, including political parties, candidates, civil society organizations, and voters.