The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) carries the heavy responsibility of ensuring that our elections remain credible, transparent and reflective of voters’ will.
From logistical hurdles to political suspicions, MEC has had to adapt to shifting challenges and evolving global democratic standards.
The latest innovation is the introduction of biometric voter verification and identification devices (BVVIDs) in the September 16 General Election.
This follows the use of election management devices (EMDs) during voter registration.
Civil society organisations (CSOs) working in governance and democracy have broadly welcomed this bold step.
The BVVID system is a much-needed safeguard against electoral malpractice to ensure that only genuine, registered voters cast ballots and do so only once.
For a country where suspected multiple voting, impersonation and stolen voter IDs frequently fuel mistrust, BVVIDs offer a powerful tool to strengthen electoral legitimacy.
They also respond to allegations that some aspirants have exploited loopholes by collecting voter IDs.
With biometric verification, every voter must place a finger on the device to confirm identity and ill-gotten IDs become useless without the matching fingerprint.
The system also curbs voting in the names of deceased persons and eliminates the possibility of multiple voting.
Once a fingerprint is verified, it cannot be duplicated.
Yet, technology alone cannot inspire trust. What matters is how it is introduced, explained and embedded in the electoral process.
Some citizens fear that biometric verification may confuse voters unfamiliar with technology.
Without adequate awareness, rejected fingerprints due to wornout ridges or technical errors could easily be misinterpreted as deliberate attempts to disenfranchise voters.
Perceptions, especially misconceptions, can damage the credibility of an entire election.
This is why MEC must not stop at procuring devices, but undertake extensive voter education to ensure that parties, candidates, monitors, observers and voters understand how the system works.
MEC must not limit engagement to political parties. CSOs are critical in bridging the gap between the commission and communities.
Rooted in grassroots structures and trusted by ordinary citizens, CSOs can act as multipliers for explaining the devices, clarifying misconceptions and building voter confidence.
Technology must be introduced in a participatory manner and civil society has to be at the centre of awareness campaigns, not treated as an afterthought.
Timing adds another layer of urgency. The rollout of BVVIDs comes close to polling day, leaving little room for adjustment.
Too often, electoral challenges stem from information gaps. When stakeholders lack clear understanding of new processes, misunderstandings deepen and tempers flare.
MEC must act swiftly to ensure that all voters receive accessible, repeated and consistent messages on BVVIDs.
Fallen United Nations chief Kofi Annan said: “Elections are the ultimate expression of the sovereignty of the people. Their integrity depends not only on laws and institutions, but on the confidence of citizens that their voices will be heard.”
Civil society insists that awareness must start with key stakeholders, who can in turn cascade information to communities. Civic educators, the media, political parties and local leaders must all be engaged.
Acceptance of BVVIDs will come faster if citizens hear about them not only from MEC, but also from trusted voices around them.
No matter how advanced technology is, elections’ credibility ultimately rest on human trust. Machines may verify fingerprints, but it is people who manage polling, interpret results and declare winners.
Trust is not built by technology alone, but by openness, inclusivity, and visible engagement of all players.
That is why MEC must also issue clear operational guidelines well ahead of polling. What if a fingerprint cannot be captured? What happens if a device fails? What backup measures will apply? Will there be manual verification under strict safeguards, or will voters be turned away?
These questions must be answered publicly and unambiguously.
As former US president Jimmy Carter said, democracy is like a baptism: “It is a cleansing experience and it requires trust to make it real.”
The biometric technology is a welcome innovation, but only if rolled out with openness, inclusivity and careful preparation.
MEC must prioritise robust awareness campaigns, intensive training and transparent guidelines to strengthen public trust.
