Voting

One of the duties and responsibilities of a citizen is to partake and participate in the political process of electing credible leaders into political positions and authorities. Eligible voters are those who are legally qualified to vote during electioneering process. Registration of voters comes before election. Independent National Election Commission (INEC) and State Independent National Electoral Commission (SIEC) see to the planning, preparation, organization and conduct of elections at national and state levels respectively. In Nigeria, anybody who is below the age of 18 cannot vote.

Definition of Voting

This is the process of choosing or electing representatives into political offices. The people elect candidates of their choice to represent their interest, advocate for their mandates or needs and fight for their rights in democratic governance. The right of people to vote and be voted for is called Universal Suffrage.

A voter is a person who has the right to vote in an election and has also attained the age for voting (eg in Nigeria 18years)

Voter Education

This is the process of educating and explaining to citizens what they are expected to know and do before and during elections. Various information to be known by voters are:

That they have right to vote once they are 18 and above

The various electoral procedures such as registration, voters card, the day, venue and time of voting etc

Their preferred candidate and its manifesto or intentions.

The presidential system of government as being practiced in Nigeria.

Voter Registration

This is the recording of a voters personal and identification data/details. These information must be vital/very useful for computation and recording by electoral officers for the issuance of voter’s card which will be presented on the day of election at the polling booth before the voters can be allowed to exercise their voting rights.

A specimen of the voter’s registration card can include the following information:

Surname: …………………………………………………

First name: ……………………………………………….

Other names: …………………………………………..

Date of birth: …………………………………………..

Gender: …………………………………………………….  Passport

Address: …………………………………………………..

Occupation: …………………………………………….

Note: Electronic voters’ registration method was adopted as an improvement to the manual registration method in use before January 2011 voters registration exercise.

EVALUATION

Explain briefly the term voters registration

The Importance of Voting

The following are the importance of voting:

It enables the citizen to perform his/her civic duties and exercise his/her voting right.

It helps citizens to partake and participate in democratic governance.

It enables voters take part in the issue that affects them.

It helps in sustaining democratic government.

It helps to control and checkmate abuse of power and bad governance.

It serves as a means of expressing rejection of political candidates.

It provides record of eligible voters among the entire population.

Note: There are some eligible voters who are not allowed to exercise their rights as a result of the sensitivity of their profession or the position of their health e.g lunatics and mentally challenged citizens, judges and election umpires.

The Process of Voting

The independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has the constitutional power to organize and conduct election.

During the election this body gives guidelines, procedures and conditions that the electoral process must follow according to the provision of the constitution.

Eligible voters that is sane people who are 18 and above and also citizens of the country will register their names

The commission will display voters register before the date of the election for cross checking , verification and if need be correction must be done before the day of election

On the day of the election, voters are to check their names at their various polling booths. This usually takes place between 8am to 12 pm.

Once the voter is eligible and has verified his/her name, he/she is expected to queue and cast their vote peacefully

The method of voting is by thumb printing on the voters sheet for the political party/candidate of one’s choice.

However, the commission can use its discretion to determine the modality for the process of voting.

Election and voter responsibilities – voting – secret ballot A voter voting

EVALUATION

EVALUATION

Define voting.

Mention three information voters must know.

Highlight five importance of voting.

List 2 items found in a voter’s registration card.

Mention the bodies responsible for voting in Nigeria.