INEC explains use of card readers

INEC also released the fact-sheet on the Election Day procedure that comprised voting hours, accreditation, voting process as well as activities that could lead to electoral offenses. On the cards reader, which is going to be used in the Nigerian election history for the first time, the commission said it utilises low power consumption and will be deployed across the country.
INEC said in its website that “For the first time in Nigeria’s electoral history, electronic voter authentication system (Smart Card Readers) is being deployed for the 2015 general elections.
“The card reader uses a highly secure and crypto-graphic technology that is used commonly in devices that need to perform secure transactions such as paying terminals.  It has ultra-low power consumption, with a single core frequency of 1.2GHz and an Android 4.2.2 operating system.
“The card reader units have been broadly subjected to Quality Assurance, Integrity and Functionality testing and found reliable in ease of use, battery life and speed of processing. For instance, it takes an average of 10 seconds to authenticate a voter. The card readers will also be subjected to Stress testing in the states and FCT ahead of the March 28 and April 11, 2015 elections.”
The electoral body also emphasised the necessity of the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) for any individual to cast his/her vote, saying that it will be swiped with a Smart Card Reader at the polling unit to ensure 100 per cent authentication and verification of the voter before he/she is allowed to vote on the election day.