Senate proposes electronic voting, results transmission for 2027 elections

The Senate Announces Plan to Mandate Electronic Voting and the Transmission of Election Results in 2027

The Senate has revealed its intention to amend the Electoral Act, making it compulsory for election results to be electronically transmitted starting with the 2027 general elections. Additionally, they have proposed the uploading of polling unit-level results and result sheets utilized at various levels of result collation to facilitate diaspora voting, primarily for presidential elections, with the aim of increasing citizen participation.

These developments were disclosed in a communiqué issued following a Senate retreat held in Ikot Ikpene, Akwa-Ibom State. The Senate has also put forward the idea of restructuring the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness in election preparation and execution.

The communiqué outlines several key points, including:

• Removing ambiguity in Section 64 of the Electoral Act 2022 (EA22) related to the use of technology in elections.
• Making electronic transmission of results mandatory for the 2027 general elections.
• Introducing diaspora voting, particularly for presidential elections, to enable citizens abroad to participate.
• Imposing sanctions on political parties that fail to submit their party member register no later than 30 days before party primaries, congresses, or conventions.
• Recognizing the need for a comprehensive national security strategy outlining security objectives, threats, and policy priorities.

The communiqué reads: “Relating to the use of technology in elections, remove the ambiguity evident in Section 64 of the EA22. Also, make electronic transmission of results mandatory from the next general elections in 2027, including the uploading of polling unit-level results and result sheets used at different levels of result collation.

“Introduce diaspora voting, at least for presidential elections, to enable citizens to vote, especially those on essential service abroad, such as military, paramilitary, and other security personnel abroad, Embassy staff, and other citizens.

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“Relating to political parties; stipulate sanctions for failure to submit the register of party members not later than 30 days before the date of party primaries, congresses, or conventions in relation to Section 77(3) EA22, which the political parties have observed in the breach in the 2023 elections without penalty.”

This announcement signals the Senate’s commitment to modernizing and enhancing the electoral process and addressing important issues related to technology in elections, political party regulations, and national security.