The National Elections Commission (NEC), ECOWAS and UNDP are expected to commence the first ever Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) feasibility study, as the 2023 general and presidential elections draw nearer.
Already, a two-man delegation representing UNDP and ECOWAS, Michael Yard and Collins Onyeamaobi, both biometric experts and consultants, are in Liberia working with the NEC to begin the BVR feasibility study across the country. The two men came on June 6, 2021, and are expected to be in Liberia until June 26, 2021.
The disclosure of the pending BVR feasibility study was made yesterday, June 7, 2021 during a joint news conference addressed by NEC Chairperson, Davidetta Browne Lansanah, alongside Yard and Onyeamaobi.
Accordingly, NEC, with the technical support of ECOWAS and UNDP, is said to be undertaking a comprehensive feasibility study of the introduction of new technology, such as biometric voter registration (BVR) in the electoral process come 2023.
Cllr. Browne Lansanah is said to be of the belief that the BVR feasibility study will consider the efficiency, cost-benefit and sustainability of the technology. “Biometric voter registration uses unique physical features of an individual—most commonly fingerprints—for voter registration and authentication,” the NEC boss said.
Chairman Lansanah continued that, when fully inculcated into the country’s electoral system, information contained on voter cards are validated at the polling place on election day. According to her, this system has been in Africa since 1994.
“The introduction of BVR globally has had advantages, among them the possibility of enhancing voter confidence and increasing the integrity, accuracy and transparency of the electoral process,” said Cllr. Lansanah.
At the same time, the National Elections Commission (NEC) said it hopes that the potential adoption of BVR in Liberia would bring about greater efficiency in data capturing and analysis, increase security and improve the conduct of future election.
Meanwhile, while in the country to start the biometric voter registration feasibility study, Michael Yard and Collins Onyeamaobi are expected to hold discussion with political parties and election stakeholders, among others, to abreast them with the significance of the study and get their input.
The NEC boss disclosed that the two BVR experts/consultants are expected to be joined by a delegation from Sierra Leone from July 6—9, 2021. She also disclosed that the NEC is paying host to a high-power delegation of ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC).