With less than a week until the 2023 presidential election, voters are being urged to prepare themselves with adequate information to combat voter fraud.
Like in previous elections, the 2023 general election is expected to have shortcomings.
However, these can be avoided if voters act appropriately and with the right information.
According to Yiaga Africa’s election guide, ‘My Election Buddy’, AFLM will look for ways to prevent electoral fraud in the Polling Units.
1. Timeliness: Electorates are urged to show up early at their various polling units as it will be the first step to impede imminent electoral fraud.
Having a clue about your polling unit 24 hours before the election day will help electorates reach their various polling centres on time.
2. Double checking: In this case, electorates are urged to cross-check and double-check some essential materials at the polling units.
Some of these materials include ballot papers, result sheets and BVAS devices.
3. Before accreditation and voting begin, electorates are urged to verify if the BVAS has zero figures for accreditation.
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4. Observing after voting: Electorates have been urged to remain at their polling units to monitor the collation, sorting and counting of the ballot papers for more transparent and accountable polls.
5. The next thing to do as an electorate is to closely monitor the ballot counting process and ensure the results are recorded on the original Form EC8A for the polling unit.
6. Electorates must ensure that INEC officials present at the polling unit take a picture of the authentic result sheet for the polling unit using the BVAS only.
7. Similarly, once the photo of the result sheet is taken, closely watch to ensure the INEC official uploads the result on the IReV using the BVAS.
8. Network issue: In a situation with a poor network to transmit the result, electorates can accompany the INEC official with the BVAS to the nearest location with the network and verify the result is transmitted electronically. 9. Similarly, electorates are to request the INEC official to post the polling result at the polling unit using Form EC60E.
10. It is essential to note that electorates can accompany the INEC officials and electoral materials to the ward collation centre to monitor the process.
11. Electorates can take pictures and video of activities at the polling unit, except picture/videos exposing how people votes.
12. Electorates can share videos and pictures on social media and tag INEC or other accredited electoral monitoring groups.
13. For electoral fraud or violence complaints, electorates can call or send an SMS to 09038007744.
