By Makutu Manneh
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is preparing to introduce a suite of digital and public-facing tools aimed at strengthening transparency and improving voter access ahead of future elections, a senior official said this week.
Appearing Monday on the civic affairs program “Your Vote, Your Voice” hosted by Kerr Fatou, the commission’s voter education and training officer, Demba Jallow, outlined plans for a geographic information system that would allow voters to locate polling stations and view registration figures directly from their smartphones.
The system, he said, is designed to make electoral information more accessible. “We are going to introduce the geography information system whereby, in your bedroom, you can use your smartphone to know the location of your polling station and how many people are registered there,” Mr. Jallow explained, describing the initiative as part of a broader effort to modernize the commission’s engagement with the public.
In a parallel move, the IEC has begun installing television screens in its regional offices to display election results as they are received. According to Mr. Jallow, some installations are already underway, with the aim of enabling real-time public viewing of results as they are compiled. “So even if the results are trickling in, we will project them for everyone to see.”
The measures, he added, are intended to reinforce public confidence in the electoral process by increasing visibility and access to information.
Mr. Jallow also highlighted adjustments to procedures governing voter attestation, emphasizing that the commission has introduced additional safeguards beyond those stipulated in electoral law. While the Elections Act permits attestations to be issued by local authorities such as a Seyfo or Alkalo without further requirements, the IEC has adopted a regulation requiring that such officials be either residents of or originate from the applicant’s community.
The change, he said, is meant to strengthen the integrity of the process. “These are part of the steps we are taking to ensure credibility at every stage,” Mr. Jallow noted.
Together, the initiatives signal a growing reliance on technology and procedural reforms by the commission as it seeks to bolster trust in the country’s electoral system.
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