By Bilesanmi Abayomi
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must make voter registration truly seamless. What we currently have is not Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), but a four-year ritual tied to general elections.
My experience abroad shows what CVR should look like if INEC is serious about credibility and productivity. Shortly after arriving in the UK, I registered to vote online without visiting any office. My voting documents were delivered by post. No drama, no stress.
During the last UK general election, I even voted with my Nigerian international passport when my primary ID was temporarily unavailable. The process was smooth, and I left convinced that Nigerians shouldn’t need constant reminders to register. Voting should be continuous, accessible, and stress-free—empowering citizens to sustain good governance or vote out bad leadership.
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Voter registration is also tied to more than elections. In the UK, I once discovered my absence from the electoral roll had affected my credit score. Updating my details online not only restored my voting rights but also improved my financial standing, unlocking access to credit opportunities. That link between civic participation and financial systems shows the deeper value of efficient voter registration.
Nigeria must learn. INEC should integrate with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and work with financial institutions and local governments to automate voter registration. Making it a daily, seamless process will cut costs of producing voter cards and curb crimes such as underage registration, PVC theft, hoarding, and destruction—all of which disenfranchise millions.
Continuous Voter Registration must be exactly that—continuous, transparent, and part of everyday national life. Anything less undermines democracy.