Anambra 2021: E-voting, electoral act amendment top lists of areas of concern

Plans Voter Register Audit

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, said it has identified five critical areas of concern and challenges likely to confront the commission in the conduct of the Anambra State governorship election this year. 

This is also as the Commission revealed plans to clean up voters register and register all those that are eligible and constitutionally qualified to be registered ahead of the 2023 general elections. 

The National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Festus Okoye, gave these details at the close of a five-day workshop for review of INEC Voter Education Manual in Keffi, Nasarawa State.

Though the electoral umpire is yet to fix a date for the Anambra governorship poll, Okoye said the areas of concern included, rolling out Electoral Voting Machines (EVM), repeal and re-enactment of a new Electoral Act and deepening technology in the electoral process.

Others areas were expanding voter access to polling units in the context of a growing population, validation of the voters roll and Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) in the shadow of the COVID- 19 pandemic.

Okoye also said the Commission is concerned about increasing voter turnout in future elections, and how to effectively manage electoral success recorded in the last two off-season elections in Edo and Ondo states. 

He explained that the Commission has resolved to sustain the momentum of the successes recorded in the Edo and Ondo Governorship elections, as well as increase voter turnout in elections through the provision of access to the polling units.