Long queues as Bungoma county residents rushed to pick up their identification cards ahead of Tuesday’s polls.
The locals thronged the county’s Huduma Center on Monday morning as they rushed to get their IDs to enable them to vote on Tuesday.
“Those who have lined here have come to pick their ID cards to enable them to take part in Tuesday’s poll,” Peter Simiyu, one of those on the queue said.
Simiyu added that people are fond of the last-minute rush, which is why the queue is long.
Original identification cards are mandatory and one has to present them physically to the IEBC officials before being allowed to cast their ballots.
A waiting card is not allowed and can not be used to vote.
The Kenyan constitution stipulates that in order for one to qualify to vote, they must be a registered voter.
One has to be at least 18 years old to be registered as a voter.
He or she must be of sound mind and has not been convicted of an election offence during the preceding five years.
Even prisoners are eligible to vote but for the presidential candidate only.
The first time prisoners took part in an election was in 2017 General Elections.
A registered voter is allowed to vote in a specific polling center of their choice.
Since voting happens once in 5 years and from 6 am to 5 pm, presiding officers only close the voting exercise once those who were in the queue by 5 pm have cast their votes.
Those in diaspora are also allowed to take part in voting process.
“Kenyans in South Sudan, the US, the UK, Canada, Qatar, and the UAE will be allowed to vote in the August 9, polls,” IEBC chair Wafula Chebukati said.
