Voter registration commenced on 20 June in Kinshasa.

Some 1.35 million of the estimated 1.5 million voter population registered during the voter registration period.

(c) Voter registration in preparation for the forthcoming elections

A voter registration drive took place between 25 June and 21 July.

Preparations were already under way in Tokelau for the referendum, including voter registration.

Notwithstanding delays and immense logistical difficulties, the outcome of voter registration is encouraging.

Political parties should therefore be urged to support such automatic voter registration programmes.

Voter registration is scheduled to end on 25 September nationwide however, registration time lines have been extended in several areas, such as Katanga and the Kasais, mainly due to logistical difficulties encountered by the Electoral Commission and the slow rate of voter registration

The act also created a system of special courts to adjudicate disputes over voter registration.

Voter registration Registration of voters, parties participating in elections and independent candidates started at 1 May, and was due to finish on 14 May.

Meanwhile, voter registration started in the two provinces on 21 August and has generally proceeded smoothly.

Voter registration has been progressively extended to the provinces since it started in Kinshasa on 20 June.

Additional voter registration in preparation for the elections began on 7 May and will last until 21 May.

Meanwhile, national police officers trained in electoral policing are being used in areas where voter registration is taking place, including for the transport and securing of electoral materials, protection of Independent Electoral Commission officials and voter registration sites and the maintenance of law and order.

The mission noted that challenges remained regarding the completion of voter registration in the Provinces of Bandundu and Equateur.

However, as registration activities progress, the Commission and MONUC are stretched to their limit as they face the multiple demands of opening and servicing thousands of isolated voter registration sites.

10. Welcomes the intention expressed by the French authorities to resolve in the coming years the question of voter registration

Voter registration started at the end of last month and will continue until two weeks before the day of the vote.

Despite calls by UDPS for a boycott of voter registration, this process has continued in Katanga in a generally peaceful fashion.

The extensive logistic assistance provided by the Organization Mission has been vital in ensuring the implementation of the voter registration process.

Encourage the Government and IEC to take the necessary measures to ensure that voter registration is conducted fairly in all of the provinces, including by extending registration time lines, as appropriate, to ensure that registration rates in all of the provinces are commensurate.

The technical and logistical difficulties encountered in the first phase of the elections, including errors in the voter roll, invalid voter registration cards and inadequate transportation to the polling stations, were mostly overcome in the second phase.

The mission reiterated the strong support of the Security Council for the electoral process and welcomed the high population turnout for voter registration.

The Council has noted the significant progress made the voting on a balanced Constitution and the smooth conduct of the voter registration process.

Encouragingly, voter registration has surged in all areas of the country, the latest figures and assessment indicating about 14 million people so far.

The Commission welcomes the work done last year on voter registration and notes the further work to be done before the parliamentary elections.

Furthermore, the Independent Electoral Commission would normally play a key role in defining the modalities for the voter registration process and in supervising it.

The efforts of the Stabilization Mission are closely coordinated with those of the Organization of American States, which is leading the voter registration exercise.

Both President Museveni and President Kagame welcomed progress in voter registration in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and expressed support for the electoral process.

The work of the Division had been important in ensuring that the voter registration started as scheduled on 20 June 2005 in the capital, Kinshasa.

Although MONUC has diverted a considerable part of its logistics effort to support voter registration, the Mission's inadequate transportation resources, compared to the magnitude of the electoral task, have contributed to delays in the timely establishment of the registration centres.

Regrettably, on 10 May the Israeli authorities closed two voter registration centres and briefly detained two members of the Palestinian Central Elections Commission staff in East Jerusalem.

Women participated heavily, determined to take part in the political life of their country, and were assisted by an extensive voter registration exercise and targeted education campaigns.

Voter registration, however, made good progress in the district, with more than 1.2 million voters from an estimated electorate of 1.6 million having registered by 14 September.

In a blatant attempt to limit Palestinian voting in East Jerusalem, the occupying forces arrested a team of Palestinians who were involved with voter registration in East Jerusalem.

Furthermore, an exclusive focus on the electoral event overlooks the fact that eligible voters tend to be disenfranchised long before the election itself, when voter registration takes place.

To this end, the United Nations will need to develop or recruit additional expertise in particular election specialties like voter registration, electronic voting, and training of election administrators.

(d) To strive to ensure that information about candidates, political party platforms, voting procedures, including voter registration, and electoral law is available to women on an equal basis with men

A new voter registration system being proposed by the National Institute of Statistics has not yet been tested and there is a risk that unforeseen operational problems could cause delays.

With regard to its legislative agenda, on 3 January the Parliament officially concluded its three month session, after having adopted the laws on the armed forces, nationality and voter registration.

Since some 20 political parties challenged the accuracy of the 2004 voter register and demanded a new voter registration exercise, the Government, the National Election Commission and political parties have agreed to carry out an in depth revision of the electoral register involving the issuance of new voting cards.

Despite efforts led by Crown Prince Abdullah to urge participation, voter registration is low, which suits the government well, as high turnout could lead to the development of an electoral culture.

Decisions also need to be taken urgently with regard to voter registration methodology, institutional responsibilities and the types of documentation that should be presented by those intending to register to vote.

As you are aware, on 20 June the Democratic Republic of the Congo effectively entered the electoral phase of its transitional process following the launch of voter registration in the capital, Kinshasa.

Supporting the compressed time lines for voter registration has added to the Mission's already formidable logistical challenges associated with the difficult terrain and size of the country and its very limited infrastructure.