1.1 Background of the Study
Voting is a means of selecting or choosing leaders. It does not apply only to local governments, states and federal government of Nigeria but also in different institutions and social organizations. Therefore, the conduct of elections in a democratic society is very important not only because through it a change of government is effected but also because voting is the main form of political participation for most people for democracy to be sound and smooth, it should be enhanced on election free from fraud.
Many centuries ago, most societies were societies were primitive and had not evolved a system of voting to elect the leaders that will govern then and promote societal harmony and peace. This means that people have to devise a system whereby a leader or a set of leaders have elected from the ranks of the people. At that point the idea of voting and being voted for became important and necessary. But before an individual can cast his or her vote, there are certain conditions to be met, one of which is to be registered as a voter.
Since independence in 1960, the Nigeria political scene has witnessed incessant upheavals, wide scale dishonesty and societal bitterness, which in most instances, degenerated into lawlessness and destruction of lives and property. Theses unfortunate situations paved the way for and served as spring boards for the emergence and growth of unskilled democrats and military leaders in the governance of the nation. Many Nigeria’s are disappointed that a post independent 46years-old Nigeria is still operating constitution which does not enjoy an overwhelming national acceptance, as evident in the persistent calls for the convocation of a sovereign’s national conference on the one hand, and the growing demand for ethnic nationalities on the other.
For about four and half decades since independence, the nation had shifted position between parliamentary and presidential system of government, with several military in cursions into polities over the years. Even the present presidential democratic dispensation is still undergoing experimentation with varying degrees of trial and error approach. It is in the light of the foregoing, that this project on voter registration is written to serve as a useful tool of enlightenment in the hands of voters, the electorate and the general public.
However, voter registration is a critical aspect of the electoral process. A credible voter’s register is a prelude to free and fair elections. It is also important for people to know is qualified to vote, where, when and how to vote. Also, a full knowledge of the registration procedure will encourage eligible voters to participate in the electoral process.
The inefficiency of voting process in Ogbaru Local Government Area has resulted in a lot of problems. These problems have continued to obstruct the peace of democracy in Ogbaru L.G.A. because the choice of a capable candidate is not encourage by the current system. The problems could be emendated as follows.
The main objectives of this project work is to design and implement voting system which should be able to:
A voting system contains rules for valid voting, and how votes are counted and aggregated to yield a final result. Common voting systems are majority rule, proportional representation or plurality voting with a number of variations and methods such as first-past-the-post or preferential voting. In election systems, protecting the integrity and privacy of critical data (e.g., votes, configurations, and ballot definitions) is undeniably important. Finally, research project would serve as reference material to other scholars interested to further research on this topic.
The study covers voting processes as it is done at the ward councillorship elections, local government chairmanship elections, the state house of assembly elections, the gubernatorial elections the national house of parliamentary elections and presidential elections. It also inculcates the voter’s personal records, candidate’s personal records and voting procedures it covers election with at most five polling centers.
In the course of carrying out this research work a number of problems were encountered.
Ballot: – This refers to the system of voting in a country balloting could be open secret or open secret.
Collation/Returning Officer: He or she collates data from the elections and declares the results were required.
Democracy: – This is government of the people by the people and for the people. This form of government places emphasis on the majority of people.
Election: – This is a set of activities whereby members of a community choose their leaders
Electoral Commission; – This refers to an independent responsibility to conduct all election from the level of government election to the presidential election in the country.
Electoral Officials: – personals who carryout election exercises.
INEC: – Independent National Electoral commission.
Judiciary: – The organ of government responsible for the interpretation of laws and punishment of offenders for the the reach of law.
Notice If Election:- This is a notice issued not less than 90days before the date appointed for holding of an election which is published in each state of the federation and the federal capital territory.
Political Clerk: – A person who assists the presiding officer and deputizes in an event of the letter’s absences.
Political Party: – Is a group of people who share common principles about the management of their affairs, with the aim of capturing political power in a given polity.
Polling: – A system of voting.
Presiding Officer: – He or she is the actual officer who conducts the election in the polling station where he is in charge.
Publication of the List of Candidates: This is the publication by the electoral commission of the final list of all candidates who stand nominated, to all candidates together with the names of the persons nominating them, including their respective addresses and occupations.
Roll Assistant/Orderly: – There may be one or more poll assistants or orderlies in a polling center. Their duty is to Assist in election duties and ensure orderliness in the station.
Supervisory Presiding Officer: He or she charge of election in a ward usually made up of about 10 polling stations.
Voter: – A voter is a person who has a right to participate in an election as an elector