Lagos residents call for adoption of e-voting in future elections

Some residents of Lagos on Saturday called for the adoption of electronic voting system in the next general elections to enable the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) curb ballot-box snatching, violence and voter apathy.

They made the call in separate interviews with Nigeria’s News Agency after the exercised their franchise at Ward J, Polling Unit 002, Ifako-Ijaye Local Government Area.

One of the respondents, Pa Adebo Mann, 78, said e-voting would reduce electoral violence, costs of holding elections and make the process more transparent than the existing mode of voting.

Mann said snatching of ballot box and thuggery would be totally eliminated if e-voting was adopted in the future, emphasising that the low turnout of voters recorded during the ongoing elections was largely caused by fear of violence.

“I wish INEC can improve on the election process by going electronically. Let INEC go electronic like it’s done in developed countries all over the world.

“Electronic voting is not so expensive like what we have now; our present process is too costly, cumbersome and easily manipulated.

“What happened during the presidential elections on Feb. 23 had discouraged people from going out to exercise their rights.

“At my age, I am supposed to vote very close to my house, but now I have walked a long distance from my house to cast my vote,” said Mann.

Similarly, an elderly voter, Chief Julius Sodipo, urged INEC to further make the current electoral process much more transparent, expressing support for e-voting, which he said was “good, but not without some disadvantages.”

Mr Hassan Ganiyu, a logistics personnel also supported the adoption of e-voting to increase the number of voters in future elections.

“Voting process will be better organised if done electronically. I support the electronic voting system because it will reduce election violence, ballot box  snatching, and political hooliganism.

“Government must start by enlightening the populace on the benefits because many people are not enlightened,” he said.