Solomon Islands Deputy Prime Minister recommends biometric technology for elections
Solomon’s deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga has recommending using biometrics technology for the registration process for its upcoming elections.
Reported in the Solomon Star News, Maelanga said the system will be credible and should be trusted, and his proposed bill mandating the biometric system is necessary for the effective and efficient administration of the electoral system in the country.
“This could include the use of fingerprints, voter identification cards, photograph images and use of electronic identity cards or other similar identification systems,” Maelanga said, adding that the use of these systems is growing in the region.
“I am also aware that our nearest neighbours Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea are currently working on adopting such a system.”
Many countries are implementing or have already used biometric systems for elections, and in particular, both Kenya and Ghana have recently completed elections using biometric verification devices.
The South African company that provided Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission with the verification machines used in the country’s presidential elections last month says it can’t be blamed for a failure by election officers to use the gadgets properly.
Following Ghana’s election, the country broke the world record previously held by India for having registered and verified approximately 13 million people for an election within 48 hours.
Comments