2023 Polls: Have PVC, Know Your Polling Unit and More Tips You Need to Vote
- In preparation for the 2023 general election, INEC released some guidelines that are important to the electorates
- The guidelines, although mandatory, would make the voting processes easy for the electorates during the presidential election
- Meanwhile, Legit.ng compiled a list of the essential requirement Nigerians need to perform their civic responsibility in the forthcoming polls
Nigerians, on February 25 and March 11, 2023, would head to the polls and elect leaders that would represent them in the decision-making process of the country.
Although President Muhammadu Buhari has announced his preferred presidential candidate but the contest would involve four major contenders, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the the New Nigeria Peoples Party.
Source: Facebook
Even though Nigerians have the right and freedom to vote for their preferred candidate during the election, a lot is needed to guide citizens in carrying out their civic rights during the polls.
As a result, Legit.ng has compiled a list of some of the most critical requirements Nigerians need to exercise their right on election day.
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How the election works
To win, a candidate must obtain the highest number of votes nationwide and more than a quarter of ballots cast in at least two-thirds of Nigeria's states.
If none of the candidates can get this, there will be a second run-off election between the top two candidates within 21 days.
Source: Original
What you need to vote
According to the guidelines released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Presidential and National Assembly Election is slated to hold on February 25th, 2023.
Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Election is scheduled to hold on 11th March 11th, 2023.
Time - 8:30 am to 2:30 pm
However, voters in the queue on or before 2:30 pm will be allowed to vote.
Who is allowed (eligible) to vote?
To vote, you must be:
- A Nigerian, 18 years and above
- A registered voter
- In possession of a Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC)
- Appear in person at the polling unit
To vote, you must be:
AGE (18 Years and above)
A Nigerian allowed to exercise their franchise during the 2023 general elections will be 18 years and above.
PVC (Have a Permanent Voter’s Card)
Only individuals who register and present a valid Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) at their polling units will be eligible to vote at the election.
Only those with their PVC authenticated using the BVAS device (fingerprint or facial recognition) can vote. NO PVC, NO VOTING!
Know your Polling Unit (PU)
You will vote in the polling unit where your name is enlisted in the Register of Voters.
How to confirm your PU
According to INEC, there are two ways for voters to confirm their polling unit, either through SMS or the commission's website.
To check through SMS, a voter is required to;
Text their voting states, last name and the last six digits of their Voter Identification Number (VIN) to any of the lines– 09062830860, 09062830861, for example, FCT Magaji 445322.
Polling Unit will open at 8:30 am and close at 2:30 pm or when the last person in the queue votes on or before 2:30 pm. This means that all eligible voters in the queue as of 2:30 pm will be allowed to vote.
What is BVAS?
BVAS is an electronic machine called Bimodal Voter Accreditation System. It is used for voter verification and authentication to confirm a voter's identity using either their fingerprints or face.
Significance of BVAS
The BVAS and any other electronic device INEC uses at elections have been backed by the Electoral Act 2022.
It ensures that only persons eligible to vote and possessing their PVCs and whose names are on the register of voters of a particular polling unit are allowed to vote at that polling unit and can only vote once.
Important note: When casting your vote, make sure you thumb-print in only one box: the box of your chosen party.
Atiku, Tinubu or Obi: Lagos-Based RCCG Pastor advises youths on presidential candidate to vote for
Pastor Oluwole Sola of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Lagos has sent an important message to Nigerians.
Six days to the 2023 presidential election, the man of God has urged the youths in Nigeria to vote wisely and shun any form of violence.
"Youths, please vote right. Check the options available and choose the candidate that will better position the country for you and the generations to come," he said.
Source: Legit.ng
