The Electronic Voter Registration (EVR) was launched on Monday 12th April in 18 constituencies across the country. This pilot phase of the new system will complement the ongoing country wide voter registration exercise. 

This will be the first time voters in Kenya will be registering electronically. The EVR is deemed to be efficient as it captures of the biometric features of a person (face recognition and fingerprint), thus uniquely identifying the individual.

The new system helps to eliminate cheating and impersonation. Unlike the manually issued voter’s card, the photograph of the voter will be displayed on the voter’s card.

The new system is expected to register about 1.5 million voters within six weeks ending on 21st May, 2010 and will cover over 1,400 registration centers.

IIEC is stepping up its voter education campaigns to achieve the 10 million target. The electoral body today held consultative meeting with the Provincial Administration in Nairobi where it sought the support of the PC, DCs, DOs and Chiefs in creating awareness on voter registration.

The EVR kits powered by solar batteries and will therefore be efficient in areas where there is no electricity. The exercise does not necessary mean IIEC is introducing electronic voting but it should be seen as a digital start to electronic voting in the future. It also be noted that the system does not require computer skills on the part of the voter; rather it is the clerks who need to be well skilled to operate the system.

With EVR, voters do not have to be concerned about technology going wrong. The process outputs a manual register for reference just like the manual system using OMR (Optical Mark Recognition) forms. The 18 constituencies where the exercise is being undertaken are: Kamukunji, Langata, Mvita, Malindi, Dujis, Wajir East, Isiolo South, Imenti Central,Mbooni, Nyeri Town, Kikuyu, Eldoret North, Nakuru Town, Ainamoi, Ikolomani, Webuye, Kisumu Town West, Bonchari

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