Use Of Card Readers For Elections

The idea of using card readers for the general elections slated for 28 March and 11 April, 2015 has continued to generate heated debate across political divides. While some Nigerians are in support of the use of the electronic device to authenticate voters, some stakeholders in the political arena have vehemently opposed its use. Despite the misgivings about the use of the card readers, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,  has insisted that the device will bring about the much needed credibility in the electoral process.

Last weekend INEC conducted a mock test in different states across the country and reported over 90% success rate, although there were some hitches in some states, especially Ebonyi. According to Kayode Idowu, the Chief Press Secretary of the Cahirman of the commission, Prof Attahiru Jega, the use of card readers in the 2015 general elections will add tremendous transparency and credibility to the accreditation process on election day while the mock exercise is to enable the commission ascertain its efficiency under different climatic conditions and discover other hitches that could be addressed before using the device for the main elections.

We support the use of the card readers as a global practice and following the trend of several less endowed African countries in adopting biometrics in the voters register. It’s a welcome development. It will go a long way in preventing election malpractices such as double registration that trailed the 2011 elections and bring about efficient means to ascertain the authenticity of the Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, and data of the holder or voter. Those who are buying up PVCs in the hope of using them to rig will be disappointed on election day as the card reader will prevent them from using other people’s PVCs to vote. The danger to democracy lies in disenfranchising all those whose cards have been traded off.

Despite the optimism, it is important for the commission to go back to the drawing board and correct some lapses witnessed during the mock test. It should also be of concern to the electoral commission to find out what was responsible for the low turnout of voters for the mock test last weekend, battery/machine failure and its inability to capture some finger prints, among other hitches in order to forestall any drawbacks that may pop up during the main elections. Power supply was and still remains an imminent setback to the use of the card readers.

During the mock exercise, it was observed that some INEC staff were not too conversant with the use of the device, hence, it is necessary for INEC to further engage them in another training exercise before the polls. Since the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has expressed its dissatisfaction with the use of the machine, it is also important for INEC to re-orientate them and other political stakeholders and carry out a massive public enlightenment to see the need for the use of the device. In doing this, INEC should not allow itself to be arm-twisted into discarding the use of the card readers the way the commission was successfully persuaded to shift the elections initially scheduled for 14 February. Having committed huge funds to the procurement of the machines and training of staff, dumping the idea might not be a good option.