Commission Deploys Voter Registration Machines In Bayelsa Wards

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Bayelsa State has moved voter registration machines to communities across the state to make registration easier for residents.

The commission said the exercise will take place at the ward level, rather than only at local government offices.

In a press release signed by the commission’s administrative secretary, Eme Agbor Akpa, on behalf of the resident electoral commissioner, he explained that the Voter Enrolment Devices will be rotated among the 105 wards in the state.

The deployment began on Monday and will last for 50 days.

He explained that the decision followed repeated complaints from residents in remote communities that it was difficult for them to travel long distances to local government area registration centres.

He said bringing the machines closer to the people was part of INEC’s responsibility to improve access to voter registration.

Akpa also noted that the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise is intended to give more eligible Nigerians the opportunity to participate in the electoral process. It added that expanding access will help increase participation in future elections.

He reminded the public that registration is strictly for citizens who have turned 18 and have never registered before in any previous voter registration exercise.

The exercise will also help already registered voters who need to transfer their registration from one location to another. It will also cover requests to replace lost, damaged, or defaced Permanent Voter Cards, as well as to correct personal details.

He advised voters who need to resolve issues related to their PVCs to visit the official CVR portal for assistance and encouraged people to use the online platform before visiting registration centres where necessary.