Senate Approves Electronic Result Transmission, Keeps Manual Option

The Senate approved the use of electronic transmission of election results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing Portal, while allowing manual collation to serve as a backup.

The decision was taken during an emergency plenary session of the Senate, following a fresh review of a controversial section of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill that had earlier caused public debate and protests.

Lawmakers agreed that results from polling units should be sent electronically after voting ends and all required forms are completed.

Under the new approval, presiding officers at polling units are expected to transmit results electronically to the IReV portal once the result sheet, known as Form EC8A, has been properly filled, signed and stamped.

The process is also to include countersigning by candidates or their agents where they are present.
However, the Senate did not make electronic transmission compulsory in all cases.

Lawmakers ruled that where electronic transmission cannot be carried out due to network issues or other technical problems, the manually completed Form EC8A will be used as the main document for collation and declaration of results.

The upper chamber also declined to include real-time upload of election results in the amended law, a move that has continued to draw reactions from civil society groups and opposition figures.

During the session, the Senate leadership guided lawmakers through the motion, which sought to reverse an earlier decision on Section 60, Subsection 3 of the Electoral Act.

Senators were given the opportunity to oppose the amendment through a formal counter motion, but the reviewed version was adopted through a voice vote.

The approved amendment now provides a legal framework that combines electronic transmission with a manual option, mainly to address challenges in areas with poor communication networks.

Despite the decision, concerns remain among some groups who believe that allowing manual results to take precedence when electronic transmission fails could affect transparency and open the process to abuse, especially in remote locations.

The amendment is part of ongoing efforts by the National Assembly to adjust electoral laws ahead of future elections, with the aim of balancing technology use and practical challenges across the country.