The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will on Saturday test-run its voter card reader technology at Igbo-Ukwu ward 1 in Aguata Local Council Area of Anambra.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Edwin Nwatarali, who announced this at a news conference in Awka on Thursday, however stressed that the exercise was not a mock election.
“We are not conducting mock elections, it is just to test our card readers which will end at accreditation,” Nwatarali emphasised.
According to him, prospective voters will come out with their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for accreditation using the card readers.
“First, we will check if the cards are that of INEC; secondly, the electorate will authenticate their finger prints to confirm that they are the true owners of the cards.
“Thirdly, if per chance anyone does not pass through the second stage electronically, there will be a manual register where your face will be checked against the card.
“After that, your index finger is inked and the exercise ends,” the commissioner explained.
He also said that there would be no ballot casting, collation of figures or declaration of result on the day.
Nwatarali explained that Igbo-Ukwu was selected because of the high level of PVC distribution in the area.
“Out of 8,033 registered voters in the area, 7,976 persons have collected their cards giving a percentage of over 90 per cent PVC collection.
“We have 47 cards not collected in the registration area and 10 cards that are being expected from Abuja.
“Again, the area has features of both urban and rural areas; there is a market in the immediate vicinity, there are high rise buildings and bungalows as well as remote areas within the ward.”
The commissioner urged all registered voters in the area to come out with their PVCs for the exercise to know how problems emanating from there could be resolved before the general elections.
