Fingerprints no longer required on party membership forms

The Elections Commission (EC) has decided that fingerprints will no longer be required on political party membership forms.

A statement released by the EC today states that this decision was made following the decision and advice of the Parliament’s Independent Institutions Committee.

The EC said that fingerprints will not be considered on forms submitted after 6 November.

“Parliament’s Independent Institutions Committee has decided that the forms do not require fingerprints. Political parties have been informed of the same via a letter,” the statement said.

The EC also informed that the deadline for submitting membership forms for the last three months of 2012 is Monday, 10 December; and that funds will be provided to political parties for the year ahead, based on membership forms received by this date.

The EC said that several problems were solved following the implementation of the requirement to put fingerprints on membership forms, and that the problems are likely to resurface with this change.