BVR system requires careful planning - ZESN

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network has warned that the Biometric Voter registration requires careful planning so as to prevent anomalies.

In a statement ZESN said the world over, in a bid to enhance efficiency and credibility of electoral processes there has been an introduction of technologies in key electoral process such as voter registration.

"One such technology is the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) which Zimbabwe is set to adopt for voter registration in preparation for the 2018 harmonised election. Important to note is the fact that the BVR system requires careful planning, preparation and implementation which if not properly implemented could have more disastrous consequences to the integrity and credibility of the electoral process," ZESN said.

"By definition, BVR is where one or more physical, biological behavioural characteristics are stored usually in a database and used for identification and verification of the voters unmistakably using biometric identifiers such as fingerprints or iris of the eye. The biological and behavioural characteristics are then stored in a database and are used for identification of voters on polling day. BVR is not to be confused with other electoral technologies such as electronic voting where voters will use machines to cast their votes on election day."

ZESN said in Zimbabwe, the technology will only be used to register voters resulting in the production of a manual paper voters' roll whose difference from the previous rolls will be that it will have pictures of the registered voters.

"Thus on election day, voters will still be identified using a printed voters' rolls and be issued with a paper ballot paper and not vote electronically using machines.
The BVR system has a number of advantages, if implemented in accordance with the internationally accepted principles for voter registration such as inclusivity, transparency, accuracy, integrity, sustainability, comprehensiveness, and security of data, the BVR will result in a clean, comprehensive and credible voters' roll with no duplicate names and will minimise multiple voting," said ZESN.

"The system enhances trust and confidence in the voters' roll which in previous elections has been highly contested emanating from the presence of duplicated entries and other errors and this is an opportunity for Zimbabwe to get a fresh voters' roll. Thus the BVR system has the ability to improve the quality of the voters' roll as it accurately captures voters' data and increases efficiency of the registration process."

"Having established the various advantages that the BVR system offers, it is important to note that in the absence of proper planning and implementation there are a number of challenges that could be faced. This is a new system which will require robust and comprehensive training of voter registration officials and data clerks on the use of the equipment. Limited knowledge and poor training of implementers may result in inaccuracies and human error leading to mistrusts and suspicions of the entire process."

ZESN said however it is important to note that BVR is not the panacea to all of Zimbabwe's electoral challenges it has great potential to transform the electoral system in Zimbabwe given that it offers significant protection against double registrations and inaccuracies.

"The system must however be accompanied by other appropriate legislative, administrative and political reforms that electoral stakeholders have been calling for. There is need for an inclusive and comprehensive Voter Education on the part of the electoral commission and other stakeholders such as political parties and civil society organisations to demystify some of the questions around the introduction of the new technology," said ZESN.

"As the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is in the process of finalizing the regulations for voter registration, it is imperative that clear provisions for the implementation of the BVR are incorporated to ensure that the system is backed up a sound legal and administrative framework. Adequate resources should be availed to ZEC to ensure that the quality of electoral processes is not compromised. In addition, given that the tender for the supply of the BVR equipment has been awarded it is crucial for ZEC to publicize the election operational calendar with clear timelines for when the various processes will be conducted and how the exercise will be phased."