Issues and Challenges of Transition to e-Voting Technology in Nigeria

Abstract

For over a decade of democratic experimentation in Nigeria, political leaders have been emerged through supposedly free and fair elections. Election as an essential component of democratization process remains weak and undeveloped in the country with the biggest challenges of transparent voting system. Consequent to the dilemma and in the quest for effective system of voting, policy makers in Nigeria begin to advocate for e-voting adoption as an alternative to lack of transparency, loss of confidence and trust in electoral process and other electoral related problems that encapsulated Nigerian voting system. Countries across the globe are increasingly exploring electronic voting and counting technologies as a viable alternative to traditional ballot paper method of voting that is criticized of being vulnerable to human related errors and manipulations. Various factors account for the reasons for e-voting adoption by different societies. However, general paucity of literature on challenges affecting e-voting adoption in developing democracies such as Nigeria is evident. While the challenges are enormous, critical appraisal of the challenges is strategic to sustainable e-voting adoption. Understanding implications of these factors would abound policy makers and democratic practitioners wherewithal to effectively commit to acceptable yet reliable voting system. This paper examined challenges that affect transition to e-voting adoption in Nigeria and recommended way forward.

Keyword: Election, e-voting adoption, domain specific, Independent National Electoral Commission, Nigeria.