Science ministry unveils locally made electronic voting machine

The Federal Ministry of Science and Technology has unveiled an electronic voting machine locally made by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).

The Minister, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, disclosed that the machine would eliminate the challenges associated with electronic voting in the country. He listed the challenges to include delay in logistics, distribution of electoral materials, ballot box snatching and disparity in results collated at polling centres with those announced by the electoral body.

The minister expressed satisfaction with the performance of the machine, which was presented yesterday at NASENI headquarters. Onu added that the machine would also eliminate rigging in elections and allow the choice of the electorate to be upheld.

The minister explained that the machine’s speed of data capturing, voting and permanent voters card issuance would encourage a high voters turnout in elections. He said: “Our courts are filled with petitions showing that the results at the polling units in some cases were not a true reflection of those at the collation centres due to human intervention.

“This technology would eliminate all of these so that we can have results in real time. Under the new order, the correct results would be displayed immediately after voting.”

Onu explained that the machine, which was first on January 30, 2017 had been improved, adding that the final product would be handed over to the Independent National Electorasl Commission (INEC), the National Assembly and the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

The Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Prof. Muhammed Haruna explained that the machine could allow up to five elections in a day. He stressed that it could allow the presidential, gubernatorial and National Assembly election results to be released within some few minutes.

Haruna said added the machine is a transmission unit that does not hold data, which make theft and snatching of ballot boxes impossible. He added that the system is in compliance with the INEC permanent voters card, adding that voters would not need to register afresh.