Caption: Google Maps Screenshot showing walking distance from location to polling booth including alternative walking routes in monochrome dots.
Nigeria is the largest country in Africa with over 200million people and youths making up more than half of the population. Every four years citizens 18 and above go to elect a president to lead the Giant of Africa. This year, 2023, Nigerians are heading to the polls on Saturday 25th February 2023 to elect a new leader. Also, State elections to elect Governors and legislatures would take place on Saturday 11th March 2023.
There are 36 States in Nigeria and a Federal Capital Territory. Further, there are 774 Local Government areas in Nigeria which means every citizen must fall within the 774 councils. Within the councils we have 176,846 polling units. Now, there are over 90 million voters ( 93,469,008) registered this year and 18 political parties vying for various positions. Youths make up almost 40% of registered voters; Combined with mid-age group that’s nearly 80% of 2023 voters. Out of the entire registered voters 93% collected their voters card. This is an improvement from the last two dispensations.
•2015 PVC Collection rate: 86.6%
•2019 PVC collection rate: 82%
•2023 PVC collection: 93.3%
Caption: Infographic showing distribution of voters by occupation and age. (Source: INEC)
Young people from 18 - 49 are pumped about the elections this year. Mid way into the activities, the emergence of an outlier roused political interests thus encouraging more people to register. We saw data rise astronomical within six months and that has resulted to intensive participation across the country. Something historical.
The good news is that the election planning and strategies have improved. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has employed technology and tools to make voters have seamless experience. Hopefully this would be achieved at the end of the exercise. Aside using social media to give updates, infomercials and data are readily shared to counter fake news. Staff and adhoc workers are being trained too.
Caption: A Screenshot showing a dialog box with a voters name and voters details with a green box at the bottom with the title Get Directions…
Most interestingly, for the first time, I am seeing that voters can check their data online but also they get direction to their polling unit via Google Maps. Voters can see the name of the road/street, distance by driving or walking and routes. I was really excited to see this feature and I hope lots of people could use it to make their voting experience better. If half of the 93 million voters could identify their polling booths using Google maps, that would be significantly useful and helpful.
What do you think?
Caption: A dialog box showing two colored boxes with the words "Yes, I understand and “Cancel”
Now there is a big challenge for map users in rural areas especially where I would be voting. Many of the roads are unnamed, wrongly spelt or swapped making them in accurate. The worst issue is that the root name found across the two communities is wrong. Thus people using e-taxis and hailing services would definitely have serious challenges including extra expenses and/or squabbles with the riders due to confusion that may cause time wasting.
Caption: When I click on the “Get Direction” button, it takes me to my polling booth on Google Maps showing walking & driving distance.
I hope this would be rectified in the future to avoid such a massive misrepresentation in a period like this. I believe this is why INEC has the important dialog box informing users that the maps may not be accurate and users need to accept they understand before taking them to Google Maps.
Nevertheless, those who are fortunate to have accurate data within their localities on maps would find it apt at this period. This also means well for users with disabilities that would need voice prompts. For PwDs, there are special accommodation for them including braille ballot paper and priority voting. Although, there is room for more inclusion and accessibility, PwDs were carried along.
Happy Elections to all Nigerians.
Please go out and vote wisely!
