CESTOS, River Cess – The National Elections Commission has increased the number of voting centers in River Cess County to 55.

There were previously only 42 centers in the county, leading many county officials to suggest that the insufficient number of locations was contributing to the low voting population of the county.

In 2011, there were 30,000 registered voters. Since the most recent elections in 2014, the number increased only by 1,000.

In interviews with some citizens, they said they did not register to vote because of the distance they had to travel for the registration process.

During the launch of the Civic and Voter Education Exercise, County Information Officer Isaac Williams and District Superintendent Samuel Jacobs called on NEC to provide additional voting centers.

Recently, the Elections Magistrate William Tompoe told The Bush Chicken that over a dozen voting centers had been added.

“From the data collected in December 2016, the NEC was able to create 13 additional centers, making the total number of centers 55,” Tompoe said.

The new district one voting centers are in Sand Beach, Lakpazee, Gbortoe, and Dehgar Towns. District two has new centers in J. L. Travers in Cestos City, Cestos City Hall, Garwodor, Kpar, Wuduah, Toe, Gohzohn, Sannah, and James Towns.

The commissioner of Fen River District, Murphy Bloh, thanked NEC for the additional centers. According to Bloh, the towns with new voting centers are likely to have higher voting populations.

“I’m grateful to the National Elections Commission for the additional centers, this is what we have been crying for,” Bloh said. “Those towns are big towns with more population. The people will be encouraged to register because their distances are now shorter.”

Featured photo by Eric Opa Doue