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SubjectFree lesson

Democratic Process II

ClassNotes Team 5 MIN READUPDATED 13 JUN 2026

Civic Education J.S.S 3 Third Term

WEEK 2

Democratic Process II

Performance Objectives

Student should be able to:

1. Explain voters registration

2. State the lapses in voters registration

Content

1. Voters registration

2. Lapses in voters registration

 

Voters Registration

Voter registration (or enrollment) is the requirement that a person otherwise eligible to vote register (or enrol) on an electoral roll before they will be entitled or permitted to vote. The rules governing registration vary between jurisdictions. In most jurisdictions voting and registration is optional, while in others (such as Australia) voting and registration are compulsory for those of voting age. In some jurisdictions, enrolment may be automatic. For example, when a person registers a change of residence with a government agency, say, for a driver's license, the government agency may forward the information to the electoral agency to automatically update voter registration.

Voter registration is both the most central and most expensive aspect of the electoral process.  The task of registering voters and producing voters’ lists often accounts for more than 50 per cent of the overall cost of administering elections. Various factors affect these costs, including the type of system used to register voters, the administrative capacity of the election management authority, and the country’s social, economic and demographic characteristics.

Lapses in Voters Registration

A fallout of delay in distribution of the cards

The disenchantment expressed by most members of the public over the untidy handling by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the permanent voter card (PVC) distribution across the country is not entirely misplaced. Rather, it signifies that the body in charge of elections, to which the exercise is preparatory, needs to rise up to the serious challenge of meeting that obligation. Availability of voting cards to eligible voters is perhaps the basic step to organising a hitch-free election. A voter's card constitutionally empowers citizens to choose at the poll who leads them in representative capacities, and Nigerians will expectedly cry foul if they do not get the cards at the INEC-appointed time.

The failure of Machine

In some states in Nigeria, complaints marred the registration in most centres during the previous exercise as there were reported cases of machine breakdown, while those who registered could not obtain their cards. Most of the registration centres were also not made use of, thereby frustrating eligible voters who trooped out to register.

Administrative Infrastructure

The success of registration efforts depends largely on whether the necessary administrative infrastructure is in place. This includes capacity for overall administrative and logistical planning or data collection; procurement policies and procedures; physical infrastructure; worker selection and training procedures; and the staffing necessary for all these aspects of the process. Establishing and maintaining the administrative infrastructure is costly and time-consuming. However, without it, the electoral process may lack legitimacy and integrity. The administrative infrastructure should be maintained on a continuing basis, not created anew for each election.

Unavailability of required documentation

In many countries such as South Africa, in deep rural areas, particularly pre-1994, potential voters may not have had the necessary documentation required for registration such as birth certificates, marriage certificates etc. It is necessary to identify other sources of verification in such cases such as the local traditional or community leader attesting to the person’s eligibility.  This is the practice in the Central African Republic, whereby a representative of the village council or the district council is required to issue a written testimony for potential registrants. Legal provisions were also made for people without the required documentation in South Sudan for the 2011 Referendum. This is necessary so as not to exclude voters who have not had access to or the resources or the need to obtain such documentation at the time of birth, etc.

Political Environment

A country’s overall political climate can obviously have an impact on voter registration and elections. The political environment may be completely peaceful, with all parties accepting the legitimacy of the electoral process; or the atmosphere may be tense because of domestic or international conflict. Between these two extremes are endless possibilities. The ideal is for registration and voting to be conducted in a harmonious political climate, but this is not always available. When it isn't, questions of fairness or legitimacy are almost certain to arise. The most useful response to a less than ideal political environment is to do the utmost in order to ensure that election administration is, and is perceived to be, fair and impartial. Also useful is to ensure maximum transparency by providing all political parties with opportunities to observe the administration of the election.

High Cost of Voter Registration

Voter registration is both the most central and most expensive aspect of the electoral process.  The task of registering voters and producing voters’ lists often accounts for more than 50 per cent of the overall cost of administering elections. Various factors affect these costs, including the type of system used to register voters, the administrative capacity of the election management authority, and the country’s social, economic and demographic characteristics.