The 2023 presidential election in Nigeria has come and gone, but one term that has been on the lips of many is BVAS. The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) was proposed to be used in the Nigerian presidential election as an innovative technology to improve the voter accreditation process. However, the use of BVAS technology in the election was unsuccessful, and it has been criticized by various stakeholders.
In this blog post, we will delve into what BVAS technology is, and how it works. But don’t worry, we won’t use complex terms and jargon that can make understanding the technology difficult. Instead, we will break it down into simple terms, so everyone can grasp the concept of BVAS technology.
Let’s get started, shall we?
What is BVAS In Nigeria?
BVAS, or the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, is an electronic device that was introduced by the Independent National Electoral Commission in 2021. This cutting-edge technology uses biometric verification, which includes fingerprint and facial recognition, to confirm the identity of voters and verify their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
Additionally, the device is capable of capturing images of the polling unit result sheet (Form EC8A) and uploading them onto INEC’s Election Result Viewing platform (IReV). IReV is an online portal that serves as a platform for the transmission and publication of results from polling units. It also enables members of the public to create personal accounts, granting them access to the polling units’ results uploaded as PDF files.
How Does BVAS Work?
BVAS technology is an innovative system that combines biometric and visual identification to verify the identity of voters before allowing them to cast their ballots. Here is a step-by-step breakdown of how BVAS technology works:
- Verification of Voter’s Card The BVAS device scans the barcode/QR code on the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) or the voter’s register to verify the genuineness of the voter’s card.
- Authentication of Voter After verifying the voter’s card, the BVAS device authenticates the voter by using either of the following methods:
- Biometric Verification: The device captures the voter’s fingerprint and facial features to verify the voter’s identity.
- Manual Verification: The Assistant Presiding Officer (APO 1) enters the last six digits of the voter’s identity number or the last name of the voter to authenticate their identity.
- INEC Voter Enrolment Device (IVED) BVAS also serves as the INEC Voter Enrolment Device (IVED) during voter registration, capturing the biometric and demographic data of the voter.
- Elimination of Incident Forms The usage of BVAS technology eliminates the need for incident forms during accreditation. The device verifies the identity of voters accurately and quickly, reducing the chances of electoral malpractices.
In summary, BVAS technology ensures a transparent and credible voting process by accurately verifying and authenticating the identity of voters, eliminating the use of fraudulent cards, and reducing incidents of electoral malpractices.
Conclusion
BVAS technology is a cutting-edge system that was introduced to improve the voter accreditation process in Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election. The technology uses biometric and visual identification to verify the identity of voters accurately and quickly, ensuring a transparent and credible voting process. The device scans the barcode/QR code on the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) and captures the biometric and demographic data of the voter during voter registration, serving as the INEC Voter Enrolment Device (IVED).
Despite its potential benefits, BVAS technology faced challenges during the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria, leading to its failure and criticism by various stakeholders. However, the use of innovative technologies in the electoral process remains crucial for ensuring transparent and credible elections. As such, it is important to continually improve on the existing technology and explore other innovative solutions that can guarantee free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria and beyond.