2027: INEC endorses use of computer-generated voting slips

The last may have been heard of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) endorsed the use of computer-generated voting slips for future elections
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu made this declaration during the quarterly consultative meeting with Residents Electoral Commissioners (RECs), held in Abuja on Thursday.

According to him, the use of PVCs should have been jettisoned following the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), adding that the commission has consulted with its officials and all major stakeholders after releasing its 524-page main report on the 2023 general election.

He said with the conclusion of five major off-cycle governorship elections and nine out of 21 bye-elections since the 2023 General Election, this is the most appropriate time for INEC to commence the implementation of recommendations arising from her review of the General Election.

The INEC boss revealed that the Commission has identified 142 recommendations dealing with the general state of preparedness, voter management, voter education and public communication, political parties and candidate management, electoral operations, and logistics management.

Others are election officials and personnel, partnership and collaboration, monitoring and supervision, election technology, voting and result management, election security, electoral offences, and the electoral legal framework. He said out of the 142 recommendations, 86 require administrative action by the Commission.

“This is followed by 48 recommendations that require action by a variety of stakeholders, including security agencies, mobile network operators, statutory bodies, political parties, transport unions, civil society organisations, and the media.

“On the legal review, there are eight recommendations that require legislative actions by the National Assembly. Very soon, the Commission will make a presentation to the Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Electoral Matters as they continue to deliberate on electoral reform,” he said