Nigerian Senate Advances Early Voting Bill to Enhance Electoral Participation

Peter Jatau and Ehis Agbon, Abuja, Nigeria.

In a significant move to bolster Nigeria’s electoral process, the Senate has passed the Early Voting Bill through its second reading. Sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua of

Katsina Central, the bill aims to amend the Electoral Act No. 13, 2022, to introduce provisions for early voting, thereby enfranchising citizens who are traditionally unable to vote on Election Day due to professional obligations. citeturn0search1

Addressing Widespread Disenfranchisement

The bill seeks to rectify the disenfranchisement of over one million Nigerians involved in essential election duties, including:

• Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Officials and Ad-hoc Staff: Over 1 million individuals.
• Security Personnel: Comprising 310,973 police officers, 93,495 military and Department of State Service (DSS) members, 51,000 National Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) staff, 21,000 Federal Road Safety Corps members, 11,336 Nigeria Correctional Service staff, 9,447 National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency personnel, and 350 Economic and Financial Crimes Commission staff.
• Election Observers: Approximately 144,800 observers from 196 national and domestic organizations. citeturn0search2

These groups often find themselves deployed away from their registered polling units, effectively barring them from participating in the voting process.

Key Provisions of the Bill

The proposed legislation outlines specific measures to facilitate early voting:

• Eligibility and Registration: Individuals eligible for early voting, including security personnel, electoral officials, and others deemed appropriate by the commission, must apply at least 30 days prior to the early voting date.
• Implementation and Voting Procedure: An early voting date will be scheduled no more than seven days before the general election, with designated voting centers established by the Electoral Commission to accommodate early voters. citeturn0search1

Senate Deliberations and Support

During the Senate session, Senator Yar’adua emphasized the necessity of the bill, stating that it aims to “enfranchise a significant group of Nigerians who, due to the nature of their duties on election days, are denied the opportunity to exercise their most fundamental democratic right—the right to vote.” citeturn0search2

Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (APC-Ondo) and Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro also voiced strong support for the bill, highlighting its potential to reduce barriers to voting and improve Nigeria’s electoral process. citeturn0search2

Next Steps

Presiding over the plenary, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters for further legislative action, with a directive to report back in four weeks. citeturn0search2

Aligning with International Best Practices

The introduction of early voting aligns Nigeria’s electoral system with international standards, as several African countries, including South Africa, Namibia, Ghana, and Senegal, have successfully implemented early voting, resulting in higher voter turnout rates. citeturn0search1

By adopting early voting, Nigeria aims to establish a more inclusive, efficient, and secure electoral process that better serves the interests of all its citizens.