For those who are having a tough time coming to terms with how voting will be held in Nigeria come February 2015, the Independent National Electoral Commission has released a guideline on what voters should expect come election day.
Steps:
VOTER REGISTRATION
Step 1: A Nigerian citizen who is eligible to vote, goes to the INEC website to locate his Polling Unit.
Step 2: The citizen goes to the chosen Polling Unit to register
Step 3: The citizen would have his/her picture taken and his/her details captured.
Step 4: The citizen would be given a Voter ID card which makes him/her eligible to vote on election day.
ELECTION DAY:
STAGE 1: ACCREDITATION
Step 1: Go to the Polling Unit you were registered with your voter registration card ad join the queue
Step 2: Present your Voter registration card to the INEC official and ensure that your name is the register
Step 3: Your finger would be marked with ink to show that you have been accredited.
STAGE 2: VOTING
Step 1: Join the queue with the intention of casting your vote
Step 2: When it gets to your turn, ensure your name is ticked in the voter register
Step 3: You would be given a ballot paper listing out the political parties
Step 4: Enter the booth and select your preferred candidate
Step 5: Place your ballot paper in the ballot box
ELECTION OFFENCES AND PENALTIES
Every registrant with a valid voter’s card is eligible to vote.
However, there are rules guiding the electoral process and anyone who violates these rules is liable on conviction to be penalized. For a full listing of penalty please click here >>
REPLACEMENT OF LOST OR DAMAGED VOTERS CARDS
However, if a person losses his card or if it is damaged, the Independent National Electoral Commission can replace them.
The procedure for replacement of lost or damaged voters cards is as follows:-
– The voter shall apply in person to the Electoral Officer or any other officer duly authorized for that purpose by the Resident Electoral Commissioner.
– The application shall be at least 30 days before an election
– The applicant shall state the circumstances of the loss or damage
– The, he shall be issued with another copy of his original voters card.
– The word “DUPLICATE” will be marked or printed on it clearly.
– The date of issue will also be printed on the new voters card.
Guidelines for Transfer of Registered Voters
A Nigerian has the right to live in any part of the country. An important part of voter registration is that an eligible person is advised to register at a centre nearest to him or her within the Ward in which he or she resides. This is to make it easy for the voter to access the polling unit and vote on election day.
However, a person who relocated to another place, outside the constituency in which he registered cannot vote in his new location unless he transfers his registration. Section 13 of the Electoral Act 2010 as Amended provides for Transfer of Registered Voters.
Procedure for Transfer:-
– Step 1-
– The person who intends to transfer his registration will write an application to INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner of the State where he is currently residing.
– Step 2-
– The applicant will attach his voters card to the application.
– Step 3-
– The applicant must apply to the Resident Electoral Commissioner not later than 30 days before the date of an election in the constituency where he is residing.
– Step 4-
– The Resident Electoral Commissioner will direct the Electoral Officer of the applicants Local Government Area to enter his name in the transferred voters list.
– Step 5-
– The Electoral Officer will assign the applicant to a polling unit in his constituency.
– Step 6-
– The Electoral Officer will issue the applicant with a new voters card
– Step 7-
– The Electoral officer will retrieve the applicants previous voters card
– Step 8-
– He will then send a copy of the entry to the Electoral officer of the constituency where the person whose name has been so entered was originally registered.
– Step 9-
– Upon receipt of this entry, that Electoral Officer shall delete the name from his voters list.
– Note- Apart from State Headquarters Offices of INEC, applicants can also submit their applications at the INEC Office in their Local Government Areas. The applications will be forwarded to the Resident Electoral Commissioner for necessary action.
