The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it
will adopt electronic platforms for the submission of nomination forms by
political parties in the Edo and Ondo governorship elections.
INEC said this in its new policy on conducting elections
released amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the policy document signed by Mahmood Yakubu, its
chairman, INEC said during the elections in Edo and Ondo scheduled for
September and October, face masks would be made compulsory for voters,
electoral officials and everyone else at all election locations.
It said the polling unit areas shall be redesigned to ensure
substantial compliance with established protocols such as social distancing.
“In order to accommodate additional activities in setting up
the PU due to COVID-19, polls shall now commence at 8.30 am and close at 2.30
pm,” the commission said, adding that personal protective equipment and other
safety materials shall be provided for polling staff.
It said infrared thermometers will be used at the various
collation centres, alcohol-based hand sanitisers at the polling units for
election officials while methylated spirit and cotton wool will be provided for
the disinfection of the smart card readers after the fingerprint of each voter
is read.
INEC also said it would not only pilot the use of e-voting
machines at the earliest possible time after the forthcoming Edo and Ondo
governorship elections, but will also “work towards the full introduction of
electronic voting in major elections starting from 2021.”
The commission added that it would regularly clean up the
biometric register of voters while continuous voter registration is suspended
“for the time being to prevent the health risks associated with it in the
context of COVID-19.”
INEC also said it would pilot e-voting in 2021. There have
been calls for electronic voting over the years but some concerns, including
the fear of cybercrime, hampered the process.
An electoral act amendment bill seeking to make e-voting
compulsory in elections, however, passed for second reading at the senate in
November.
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