By The Nigerian Senate has advanced a bill to amend the Electoral Act, allowing citizens on essential duties to vote early.
The “Electoral Act (Amendment – Early Voting Bill) 2024,” sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua, passed its second reading on Thursday. The bill aims to grant voting rights to those unable to participate on election day due to work commitments.
Senator Yar’adua emphasized that many Nigerians, including electoral officials, security personnel, journalists, and election observers, are disenfranchised because they are deployed far from their registered polling units. “This irony must be corrected through early voting,” he stated.
The bill proposes a process where eligible workers must apply 30 days in advance. A designated early voting day, at least a week before the general election, will be set up. Votes will be counted alongside regular ballots to maintain transparency.
Citing global examples, the senator highlighted how early voting is successfully practiced in countries like the United States, Australia, Canada, Germany, South Africa, and Ghana, increasing participation and election efficiency.
If passed, the law will allow over one million essential workers to vote, ensuring that those who help conduct elections can also exercise their democratic rights.
