Electoral Chairman admits Problems with Traditional Method

The Chairman of the Gambian Electoral Commission, Alhajie Mustapha L. Carayol, says plans are underway to introduce biometric voter's card before next years general elections.

“Going through the electoral history of The Gambia, there have been a myriad of problems encountered by the Commission, using the traditional method of voter registration,” Mr Carayol said.

The IEC has decided to shift from the traditional voter registration to biometric system for the forthcoming elections - presidential, parliamentary and local government. But this, according to Carayol, will cost more than D61 million (US$2,288,930.61) from a budget of over D152 million for the Commission from 2010 to 2013. 

Alhajie Mustapha L. Carayol was speaking during at one-day presentation and demonstration on how to conduct the process of biometric voter’s card registration in Banjul on January 12.

Mr Carayol said a complete and accurate voters list is an integral part  of holding a credible election. “An election that is credible must prevent voters from voting more than once and unregistered voters from voting,” he said.

He also told representatives of various stakeholders that the IEC requested technical and financial project proposals from companies to indicate how the registration will be conducted; the gadgets to employ, the cost involved and the time-line.

Two international Companies, CODE Incorporated Digital Registration Solution, a Canadian company headquartered in Ottawa; and Zetes PASS of Belgium are bidding for the lucrative contract. The two companies are expected present and demonstrate on how to conduct the exercise in order to convince the IEC to award them the contract.

Carayol said that seven companies (including Gambian owned, Pristine Consulting) were invited by the Commission to make some presentations and demonstrations on biometric voter registration, out of which the Canadian and Belgiancompanies were short listed.

However, presentations by the Belgian and their rival Canadian contenders were not enough to convince the IEC to award either one the contract as both companies are further required to conduct mock registration exercises in schools in Banjul and in the Western Region from 14^th to 16^th January, 2010.

According to Commissioner Carayol, the biometric system is unique because it has been developed around unique characteristics of individuals, which cannot be borrowed, stolen or forgotten, and forging one is practically impossible. However, he was quick to add that except in 'replacement surgery'.

He also argued that the biometric system is non-duplicable, because it is an intrinsic property of an individual, which he believes will greatly help in dealing with double registration. "Biometric registration of voters will avail us the opportunity to cross-match the data collected to verify within a short time that the person has not registered before", the Commissioner said.

On security, he cited that the use of fingerprints and password for anyone accessing the system lessens any risk of tampering with the system.        

“With proper networking; one database supported by seven administrative databases -- [as the system requires] data will be securely transferred thus easing the problem of missing names,” he said.

He also pointed out that after the last election cycle from 2006 to 2008, all stakeholders were consulted on the electoral process with a view to critically analyzing it. After thorough reflection and consultations, the Commission decided to go for biometric-based solutions for the registration of voters.

“The need to shift from traditional method of registering voters which uses instant polaroid cameras and films together with cold laminate pouches to a modern and state-of-the-art technology cannot be overemphasized,” he said.

He admitted that the IEC has since its inception used traditional form of voter registration, which includes the use of polaroid camera, counterfoil books and voting cards issued in cold plastic laminates.

He said that old system was less secured as the voting card can easily be forged or damaged and there were issues like double registration and missing names.

“The IEC operates on its guiding principles of fair play, integrity, neutrality, independence, credibility, transparency, accountability and professionalism,” he said.

He commended the government for fulfilling its financial obligation to the Commission as enshrined in Section 44 of the 1997 Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia. Similarly, he thanked the UNDP, DfID and EU for magnanimously providing resources that greatly enhanced the success of the last election cycle.

Our correspondent says any of the two competing companies that gets the contract with the Commission, will be expected to start processing biometric voter’s cards with effect from January 2011.

The Company is also expected to train staff of the Commission, who will in turn help in training a number of technicians for the sub-contracted company to work with. “The system will also be made available to the Commission and the know-how be imparted to its staff in order to be conducting the voter registrations whenever the need arise,” our correspondent adds.