Serialised Attestation Forms Debated at IEC Forum

IEC Leadership

By Fatoumata Jaiteh

At the monthly stakeholder forum held at the OIC Conference Center in Bijilo, the Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Joseph Colley, on Tuesday, 10th March 2026, revealed that the Commission plans to introduce a serialised attestation system for the upcoming voter registration process.

According to the IEC Chair, the move is aimed at tightening controls around the issuance of attestation forms, which are sometimes used by applicants who do not possess standard identification documents such as a national ID card, passport, or birth certificate.

He explained that under the new arrangement, every attestation form issued will carry a unique serial number linked to a specific registration process, meaning any attestation issued outside the official system will not be accepted.

“This is to sanitise the issue of someone getting up and going to any Alkalo to obtain an attestation. If you leave it open, some can get up from Banjul and collect an attestation in a different community,” the IEC Chair said.

The Commission believes the serialisation system will limit abuse of the attestation process and prevent individuals from obtaining attestations from communities where they are not known, thereby helping to maintain the credibility of the voter register.

However, the proposal triggered a legal concern from a participant at the forum. Kissima Bittaye from the Ministry of Justice argued that such a move may contradict the spirit of the Elections law.

Citing Section 13 of the Elections legislation, Bittaye explained that the law outlines the qualifications and documentation required for voter registration, including the provision that a person may present an attestation issued by an Alkalo (village head) confirming the person’s identity or origin when other documents are unavailable.

Bittaye argued that introducing additional administrative restrictions, such as limiting or controlling how attestations are issued, could be interpreted as going beyond what the law originally intended.

“That was not the intent of the legislation by the National Assembly,” he said, adding that the IEC should be cautious not to create rules that could be seen as contradicting the main context of the law.

He further suggested that the Commission should remain silent on the matter unless the law itself is amended.

Responding to the concern, the IEC Chair maintained that the law does not specify which Alkalo should issue an attestation, leaving room for the Commission to design mechanisms that ensure order and transparency during registration.

“The law is silent on which Alkalo should give an attestation,” he said.

He further argued that without safeguards, the attestation process could become chaotic.

“We have to test the laws. If we leave it as it is, we will have a chaotic registration process,” the IEC Chair added.

The issue of attestation has long been a subject of debate in The Gambia’s electoral process, with critics warning that it can be vulnerable to abuse if not properly regulated.

The stakeholder forum was attended by representatives from various political parties, civil society organisations (CSOs), and electoral stakeholders, who gathered to discuss key preparations and concerns ahead of the 2026 electoral activities.