The delays yesterday during the special voting for police and other Government officials who are likely to be deployed away from their constituencies on July 31 were a result of events, not fundamental flaws in the electoral process or its organisation. The main problem was that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission did not have a final list of candidates, with their political affiliation, until late on Friday when the results of several court cases became known. But that final list for this weekend is the same final list for the main Election Day at the end of the month. So the ballot papers that were available for special voting are the same ballot papers that will be issued on July 31.
Any candidate who now wishes to withdraw cannot officially do so. All they can do is run around begging people not to vote for them, but their name remains on the ballot. Should a candidate die, then there will have to be a by-election in that ward or constituency.
The deadlines for legal challenges in the nomination process, and the deadline for formal withdrawal of nominations by candidates who have changed their minds and no longer seek office, are there to ensure that the ZEC can have ballot papers printed and available in time.
Full Article: allAfrica.com: Zimbabwe Electoral Commission On Course.