The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday announced the introduction of electronic voting for the conduct of major elections from next year.
INEC, in a policy document signed by its Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, pledged “to make available its electronic channels for voters to check their registration status.”
The Commission said pilot electronic voting machines would not be used in this year’s Edo and Ondo governorship elections but that the full introduction in major elections will begin from 2021.
INEC assured that the Edo and Ondo elections would hold on October 10 and September 19 this year while the date for the four postponed bye-elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Plateau States, as well as other bye-elections would be announced in due course.
It said the purpose of the policy was to enable its officials and staff to understand and respond adequately to the challenges of conducting elections in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The policy touched a wide range of election issues including deployment and conduct at polling units, accreditation of election observers, conduct of party primaries and campaigns, among others.
Due to the challenges posed by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, INEC said it would work with the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 and health authorities for voluntary COVID-19 testing for its staff before and after deploying for elections.
“Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other safety materials shall be provided for polling staff. There shall be 2-metres (6ft) queuing distancing for all seeking to enter the collation hall. There shall also be 6ft sitting spacing arrangement within the collation hall.
“In order to prevent overcrowding during collation, only one polling agent of a party on the ballot (or the candidate in person) for the election(s) shall be allowed into the collation hall,” the commission stated.
It confirmed the increase in the number of voting points from 500/750 to 1,000/1,250, “in order to reduce the number of points in a polling unit to be monitored and controlled for COVID-19 compliance.
“There shall be a two-tier queuing system at the polling unit – one outside and the other in the voting area. Voters will be brought into the voting area periodically to prevent overcrowding. Tags and twines may be used to ensure crowd control and maintenance of social distance.
“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. Anybody on the outer queue by 2.30 pm shall be allowed to vote, in line with the commission’s regulations.”
Also the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) would be expanded at all levels, accorsing to the document, to include Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) and National Orientation Agency (NOA), on a temporary basis.
“To reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19, the commission shall reduce to a minimum interstate movement of staff, including ad hoc staff, for off-season and bye elections. The rule shall be that only shortfalls requested by the states are filled from outside the State,” it added.
INEC said the number of accredited observer groups would be reduced, “based on past performance and compliance with commission’s guidelines for election observation. This is to reduce crowding and therefore health risks at election venues.”
Also to be reduced is the number of field observers, which it said, would be proportionate to the number of accredited observer groups.
The Commission advised political parties to develop appropriate guidelines and regulations for the conduct of party primaries in line with the COVID-19 prevention protocols.
It however warned that where the guidelines and regulations were in “conflict with the constitutions of political parties and the INEC’s regulations and guidelines for the conduct of political party primaries, 2018, the commission shall draw the attention of the political party to the discrepancy.”
INEC promised to review its draft on ICCES common Code of Conduct for Security Officials on Election Duties in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, assuring that “ICCES shall develop guidelines for identifying legitimate security officials on election duties to prevent impersonation by wearing masks.”
This policy, according to the commission shall apply to all elections and electoral activities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
INEC said it derived the power to develop the policy from Section 160 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empowers it to regulate its own procedure or confer powers and impose duties on any officer or authority for the purpose of discharging its functions.
“The commission is also empowered by Section 153 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) to issue regulations, guidelines and manuals for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of the Act,” it added.