Fact check: Is it true that Nigerians can only vote with index finger?
Ahead of the 2019 general elections, there has been some pervasive posts on social media asking Nigerians to make sure that they only vote with their index finger.
Some of the social media posts justify their claim by saying there are many more candidates on the ballot this year and so the space to place fingerprint has reduced and therefore advised the electorates to vote with their index finger, rather than their thumb.
They added that the ink might spill into another space if the thumb is used, thereby invalidating the vote.
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Some other post asked voters to use index finger only, “not the usual thumb”. Examples:
How accurate are these pieces of information?
Information from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) proves the above information is not only misleading but a typical example of fake news.
In a Twitter post headlined “ON WHICH FINGER TO VOTE WITH”, INEC explained that “a voter can use any finger to vote but should ensure that his or her mark is clear and placed inside the box of the political party of his or her choice and does not stray into another box”.
The electoral body also stated in another tweet: "Fake News Alert: Any finger can be used for marking a ballot paper."
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Conclusion:
Eligible Nigerians can vote with all ten fingers because during the electoral registration, all ten fingers were digitally captured. This means, as INEC has reiterated, any finger can be used for marking a ballot paper.
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Source: Legit.ng
