The highly anticipated 2019 General Elections are only a few days away and millions of Nigerians have registered and are ready to vote.
First-up will be the Presidential and National Assembly polls on February 16 with the governorship and state houses of assembly elections to follow on March 2.
According to INEC, there are seven steps to voting and every voter will follow the same procedure.
Below are the steps:
Step 1:
Upon arrival at the polling unit, join the queue and present yourself to the INEC official (APO111) at the polling unit who will determine whether you are at the correct polling unit and check if the photograph on the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) matches your face. If satisfied, he/she will direct you to the next INEC official (APO1).
Step 2:
The official (APO1) will request for your PVC to confirm that your card is genuine and your details, using the smart card reader. He/she will ask you to place your finger on the card reader to confirm that the PVC belongs to you by ascertaining, the card reader will contain the name, photograph and fingerprints of all those registered in their polling unit.
Step 3:
You will then meet the next official (APO11) who will request for your PVC to confirm that your name and details are in the voters’ register. Your name will be ticked and your PVC returned to you. He/ she will then apply indelible ink to the cuticle of your appropriate finger for that election to show you have been accredited to vote. (If your name is not found on the register, you will not be allowed to vote).
Step 4:
The presiding officer (PO) will stamp, signs and endorse the date at the back of the Ballot Paper. The PO will roll the ballot paper inwardly with the printed side inwards and give to you. He /she will then direct you to the voting cubicle where you vote in secret.
Step 5:
You will stain your appropriate finger for the election with the ink provided then use your stained finger to mark the space or box provided on the ballot paper for your preferred candidate/party. Roll the marked ballot paper (in the manner the PO gave to you).
Step 6:
You will then leave the voting cubicle and drop the ballot paper in the ballot box in full view of people at the polling unit.
Step 7:
You will then leave the polling unit or wait if you so choose to in an orderly and peaceful manner to watch the process up to the declaration of result.
