Inec proposes 34 amendments to electoral act
A timely and important topic!
On February 24, 2022, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Nigeria proposed 34 amendments to the Electoral Act 2022. This move is aimed at strengthening the electoral process and addressing some of the challenges that have plagued Nigeria's elections in the past.
Some of the key proposed amendments include:
- Electronic Transmission of Results: INEC wants to allow for the electronic transmission of election results from polling units to the commission's headquarters, which is expected to reduce the risk of manipulation and improve the accuracy of results.
- Voter Registration: The commission proposes to allow for continuous voter registration, which will enable eligible citizens to register and update their voter information throughout the year.
- Voter Education: INEC wants to introduce a comprehensive voter education program to educate citizens on the electoral process, their rights, and responsibilities.
- Party Primaries: The commission proposes to regulate party primaries to ensure transparency, fairness, and inclusivity.
- Campaign Finance: INEC wants to introduce stricter regulations on campaign finance to prevent corruption and ensure that political parties and candidates are transparent about their funding.
- Electoral Offences: The commission proposes to strengthen penalties for electoral offences, such as vote-buying, ballot box snatching, and intimidation of voters.
- Independent Candidacy: INEC wants to allow for independent candidacy, which will enable individuals to run for office without being affiliated with a political party.
- Youth Inclusion: The commission proposes to introduce measures to increase youth participation in the electoral process, including the establishment of a youth desk in INEC.
- Disability Inclusion: INEC wants to ensure that polling stations are accessible to people with disabilities and that they have equal opportunities to participate in the electoral process.
- Technology: The commission proposes to leverage technology to improve the electoral process, including the use of biometric authentication, electronic voting, and online registration.
These proposed amendments are expected to be debated and voted on by the National Assembly, and if approved, will become part of the Electoral Act 2022. The goal is to create a more transparent, inclusive, and credible electoral process that reflects the will of the Nigerian people.