The Senate has amended the Electoral Act again, reworking its language around the electronic transmission of results. But despite the softer wording and public reassurances, the bottom line remains the same: electronic transmission is still not compulsory.
In the updated amendment, the Senate says electronic transmission is allowed and recognised under the law. However, it stops short of making it mandatory in every election or at every polling unit.
Instead, the law gives the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the authority to decide how, when, and under what conditions results will be transmitted electronically.
Earlier public debates focused on fears that electronic transmission could be weakened ahead of the 2027 elections. After backlash, the Senate retained references to electronic transmission in the Act. But what changed is the strength of the obligation.
There is no binding language that forces immediate digital transmission from polling units, and manual collation remains legally valid and central to the process. In effect, the Senate adjusted the phrasing but kept discretion in INEC’s hands. Electronic transmission is permitted and not guaranteed.
Supporters of the amendment argue that making electronic transmission absolute could create legal chaos in areas with poor connectivity. Critics argue that leaving it optional weakens transparency and creates room for disputes, especially given the controversies that followed the 2023 elections.
