As of tomorrow, you can go and re-register without sleeves.
Today the Chairman of the Election and Boundaries Commission Doug Singh told us that the Chief Elections Officer has sent an email directive to staff at all re-registration centers saying that anyone can re-register in a sleeveless top. That includes camisole tops, tank tops and undershirts.
We spoke to the Prime Minister who said he was not aware of the policy - which he strongly opposes. Just like Singh, he says re-registration should be made as simple and accessible as possible for all.
Apparently, the practice of requiring sleeves for registration pictures - which is not in the law - started decades ago, and has been the standard for decades. The idea - as it has been told to us - is that if a newly registered voter is pictured with sleeves, there would be no chance of thinking that person was nude. We have no idea what that has to do with voting…but - up until now - that was the rule. Thankfully, in a small victory for common sense, it is no more.
We also asked Singh about men wearing earrings or a single earring or ear stud. They are being made to remove those for the picture, while women get to freely wear their earrings. Again, makes no sense in the 21st century, and Singh said that practice should also be discontinued.
The issue came to the forefront last week when our news Director Jules Vasquez was rejected after he went to re-register sleeveless.
Email
Print