Gambia Introduced Biometrics Voter Registration System

Election Chairman Says The New System Would Enhance Free And Fair Elections

Gambia: 2010-2013 electoral budget stands at D152M-Chairman Carayol Explains

By Staff Reporter James Jammeh, Banjul

The head of the Gambia’s electoral body, the Independent Electoral Commission, has disclosed the budget allocated for the body between now and 2013 is one hundred and fifty two million dalasis (D152, 000,000.00).

Alhaji Mustapha L. Carayol made this disclosure at the Kairaba Beach Hotel during the presentation and demonstration of a newly acquired Biometrics Voter Registration System. According to Mr. Carayol, with just less than two years before the country’s presidential election, the Commission deemed it fitting to set in motion all efforts in pursuance of the conduct of free, fair and transparent election in the 2011 polls and beyond.

The IEC boss revealed that after the last cycle of elections from 2006 to 2008 all the stakeholders were consulted on the electoral process with a view to critically analyze it. And he said that after thorough reflections and consultations, the Commission decided to go for a Biometric Based Solution for the registration of voters.

Carayol narrated to the gathering that seven companies were invited by the Commission to make some presentations and demonstrations on Biometrics voter registration, and that among these was a locally based company called Pristine Consulting. The IEC later requested technical and financial project proposals from each of those companies, which required each to indicate how the registration would be conducted, the gadgets to employ, the cost involved as well as timeline.

In the words of the Commission’s chair, after meticulously going through the various project proposals, CODE Inc and ZETES PASS, Canadian and Belgian companies respectively, were shortlisted. The two were then invited to make further presentations and demonstrations, hence the current meeting, which lasted from Monday 11th to Tuesday 12th January 2010.

‘‘A complete and accurate voters list is the starting point of a credible election, and an election that is credible must also prevent voters from voting more than once and unregistered voters from voting,’’ Carayol said. He added, ‘‘the use of Biometrics for automatic de-duplication, verification and authentication at the point of registration represents the best solution in ensuring election with highest integrity, which is always a priority area for the conduct of elections in the Gambia.’’

The IEC boss went on to list some of the advantages of the biometric registration system, citing some similarities with the less advanced one presently in use which captures fingerprints of applicants on both the voting card and in the system for identification purposes.

The new system also provides photos of the voter on both the voting card and on the voter’s roll.  The problem of double/multiple registrations is said to be easily detected, information about a particular voter is fed in the system before a voting card is issued, which mitigates the problem of missing names in voter’s roll.

Mr. Carayol said that they had experienced a myriad of problems using the traditional method of voter registration, which uses Instant Polaroid Cameras and films together with cold laminate pouches.

‘‘The IEC has since its inception used the traditional form of voter registration which includes the used of Polaroid camera, counterfoil books and voting cards that are issued using cold plastic laminates,’’ he stated. He therefore argued that the need to shift to a state-of-the-art modern technology cannot be overemphasized.

With the old system, he said, there was less security since the voters’ card could be easily forged or damaged.

‘‘There were also issues such as double registration and missing names due to the fact that Polaroid cameras and films are obsolete and out of the market, and clinging on to the traditional method of voter registration system will now require the use of laptop computers, digital cameras, printers and generators sets at registration centers,’’ Carayol said.

The Gambia’s Independent Electoral Commission boss concluded by assuring that his Commission operates on its guiding principles of fair play, integrity, neutrality, independence, credibility, transparency, accountability and professionalism.