As one of the ways of making the electoral process in Nigeria more efficient, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has proposed introducing computer-generated voting slips as an alternative to Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in future elections.
This recommendation was disclosed by INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, during a quarterly consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja on Thursday.
He explained that the innovation is in line with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which now facilitates voter authentication, making PVCs less critical for the voting process.
This proposal is part of electoral body’s larger effort to implement recommendations from the review of the 2023 General Elections.
He noted that the commission has conducted extensive consultations with its officials and key stakeholders, resulting in 142 recommendations for improvement.
“We have engaged broadly with our officials and consulted all major stakeholders. We have also released a comprehensive 524-page report on the 2023 general election,” Yakubu said.
Moreover, these recommendations address various facets of the electoral process, including voter management, voter education, and election technology.
Yakubu, who has been in the eye of the storm, following what people described as “shambolic 2023 elections”, noted that 86 of these recommendations require administrative action from the commission, while 48 necessitate intervention from other stakeholders, such as security agencies and political parties.
He underscored the importance of this issue for the integrity of the electoral process.
“The Commission also believes that with the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), the role of the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC) as the only means of identification for voter accreditation on Election Day should be reassessed,” he stated.
According to Yakubu, this approach will not only reduce costs but also address problems associated with PVC collection and the practice of hoarding cards to disenfranchise voters.
“Those who already possess PVCs can continue to use them to vote, but moving forward, computer-generated slips issued to voters, or downloaded from the Commission’s website, will be sufficient for voter accreditation,” Yakubu clarified.
The review report also includes recommendations for early or special voting for Nigerians unable to vote due to their responsibilities during elections, such as INEC officials and security personnel.
Furthermore, the commission endorses diaspora voting, the establishment of an electoral offences tribunal, and the creation of a dedicated agency for political party registration and regulation.
Yakubu concluded by affirming the commission’s commitment to enhancing voter access and distribution to polling units.
“The Commission will take decisive action on improving voter access and distribution to polling units,” he announced.
