Nigerian Voter Education!

Make Sure Your Vote is Valid!

Transfer Your Voting Registration

Replace Lost/Damaged Voter's Card

Electoral Offences and Penalties

Details of the Voting Process

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Voter Registration - what is it?
It is the:

• identification of citizens who can vote at an election
• compilation of their personal details in a list called the voters register

What are the qualifications for registration?
He/she is:

• a Nigerian citizen
• 18 years and above
• ordinarily resident in the ward or LGA where he intends to vote
• not subject to any legal incapacity to vote under any law, rules, regulations in force in Nigeria

What does "Ordinary Residence" mean?
Ordinary Residence is :

• a place where a voter lives, sleeps as his usual abode
• It is not necessarily his LG or State of origin
• A voter may choose to travel to his LG or state of origin to register

What is a Voter's Card?
It is a registration card a voter obtains at the registration centre where he/she was registered as a voter

What are the features of a Voter's Card?
The features include:

• The Voter's name
• The name of the state the voter is registered in
• The name of the LGA
• The Registration Area/Centre and code
• The Voter's Identification number (VIN)

Why is a Voter's Card important?
A Voter's Card is important because:

• Every voter is expected to keep his/her registration card safely
• He/she will use it on the day of election
• No other document will be accepted for identification in place of the registration card
• Without a voter's card, a voter cannot cast his vote during an election
• A lost voter's card can be replaced if proved

Where can I register?
A person can register only once - at the ward or LGA where he: resides; or works in gainful employment or originates (i.e. an indigene)

Who is responsible for the conduct and supervision of the Federal and State elections in a state as well as Area Council election in the FCT?
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC)

Who is the head of the Commission's office in the State INEC Headquarters?
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC)

Who is the head of Commission's Office in the Local Government Area (LGA) or Area Council?
The Electoral Officer (EO)

My mother is sick, but registered. Can I vote for her?
No, there is no voting proxy.

Who supervises the conduct of elections in a cluster of polling stations and liaises between the Electoral Officer and a number of Presiding Officers and Poll Clerks under his/her supervision on all matters affecting the elections especially in the collection and distribution of materials?
The Supervisory Presiding Officer (SPO).

What do I need to present to exercise my franchise?
A validly issued voter's card

Here is my voter's card, duly registered in Lagos. But I want to be involved in electing my governor in my home state of Benue. Can I be stopped from being accredited for election?
Registered voters are only permitted by law to vote at polling stations where they were registered and their names displayed.

What does accreditation entail?
All persons wishing to vote must have their names on the register of voters. The Poll Official in-charge must certify this before being allowed to vote. Electors have to be accredited prior to voting.

Why Accreditation?
It has been designed to restrict unauthorized movement. It will be simultaneous across the country. It is also to prevent multiple voting.

I am not eligible to vote. Can I not move around because voting is going on?
In order to avoid election irregularities such as multiple voting, snatching and stuffing of ballot boxes, molestation of Poll Officials, people are advised to avoid movement before the end of voting on Election Day. There are exceptions to this rule.

Can I vote if my voter's card is mutilated or torn?
You may still vote after the Poll Official has verified that your name is in the register of voters. But keep good custody of your voter's card.

What are the qualifications for me to cast my vote?
You Must :

• Be registered at the polling station where you want to cast your vote;
• Have your voter's card;
• Present yourself to presiding Officer at the polling station;
• Follow the directives of the Poll officials in an orderly manner

Can I canvass for votes for my candidate(s) in a polling station on the day of election?
No person shall canvass or solicit for votes or persuade any voter not to vote for any candidates on the day of election,

During an election, can I or on my friends/s behalf receive money, gifts, loans or valuables in consideration for voting?
No. A voter commits an offence of bribery in such situations.

Can Election Officials allow Polling/Party agent at the polling station and collation centers?
Election officials shall allow each party to be represented by one Polling/Party agent at a time in a polling station and collation centre. They must provide their letters of appointment/accreditation duly endorsed by INEC. Also, they should be allowed to observe the distribution of election materials, conduct of voting, sorting and counting of ballots and announcement of results.

How do I vote at the polling station?
The thumb-printing of ballot paper by voters must be done in secret while depositing the ballot(s) in the box should be done in open view of all present.

What is form EC.8?
This is the Form on which election results are written.

Who are the stakeholders in an Election Day process?
The following people shall be allowed full access to the polling station:

• Voters
• INEC Officials on election duty
• Security Agents
• Accredited Polling/Party agents
• Accredited journalists
• Accredited Domestic and international Observers

Can an election process commence even if no Polling/Party agents are present in the polling station and collation center?
Yes. Poll Officials can commence the election process even if no Polling/Party agent is present in the polling station or collation center.

Can Polling/Party agents call the attention of poll Officials to any irregularities?
Yes. Polling/Party agents can call the attention of poll Officials if they witness any irregularities at the polling stations or collation centers.

For me to exercise my franchise, what can I do?
You should:

• keep good custody of your voter's card;
• Arrive at the polling station within the time of accreditation;
• Be around when voting commences

I have lost my voter's card, can I still vote in the coming polls?
You can still vote provided you apply in person to the electoral officer or any other officer duly authorized for that purpose at least 30 days before polling day.

I am poor and people told me that my voter's card can fetch me some money. Is it legal to do that?
No. it is absolutely illegal to do that. It is punishable on conviction by imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or a fine not exceeding 200,000 naira or both.

I want to contest in the coming election and I am not a member of any of the political parties. Can I run as an independent candidate?
No. There is no legal provision for independent candidate. A candidate must be sponsored by a political party before he/she can be voted for.

Can I still be accredited and be allowed to vote after accreditation is over?
Voters waiting in the queue at the close of accreditation shall be accredited and allowed to vote if they are in queue, but any voter coming after shall not be accredited to vote.