Technology Adoption in Liberia: The Case of the Electronic Voters’ Registration System

The use of biometric Electronic Voters' Registration (EVR) system has been a topic of controversy in Liberia in recent days. Designed to facilitate registration of voters and the voting processing using electronic devices, the system is new to some Liberians and a mystery to many. 

Fortunately, there is another group in Liberia with prior or an appreciable knowledge of EVR systems, who welcome them and view them as part of Liberia’s digital transformation, as well as a move toward bringing efficiency and transparency in our electoral processes. More importantly, they view it is a move toward modernity; something Liberia needs. 

Despite the digital transformation that EVR systems bring to our electoral processes, there is a ubiquitous perception that Liberia is not ready to adopt this technology. The classical reasons as being espoused by those rejecting the system are as follows: the lack of access to the internet, the lack of computer/technology knowledge by voters, the issue of security, and so on. These are some of the reasons proffered and argued by proponents of the old and manual system. 

I have experienced similar phenomenon in Liberia too!!! A couple of years ago at the genesis of COVID-19 and fearing the uncertainties presented by the pandemic, the University of Liberia (UL) introduced eLearning. This action was taken to provide an alternative to face-to-face learning since the pandemic required social distancing. 

That initiative put over 20,000 students and faculty online bringing a paradigm shift in teaching and learning at the University. This did not come easy! At the onset, without at least considering the benefits of eLearning, it was rejected by the multitude (both faculty and students). The lack of bare minimum requirements for eLearning emerged as the primary reason for the UL not to try at least.

The lack of quality, secure internet access, which was a major requirement or should I say the Conditio Sine Qua non of eLearning was again another issue raised by stakeholders, even though every student at the tertiary level in Liberia, has access to and uses social media/Facebook daily. After many deliberations and even protests, the system remains. Today, after several hurdles, UL is now a hybrid university like most of its competitors around the world. It was a bold move taken at a time when Liberians rejected change. 

Fast forward to 2023, we are yet again using the same excuses/reasons for not adopting the EVR being provided by the National Elections Commission. One wonders, what is Liberia’s ICT (Information and Communications Technology) sector doing to remedy some of these problems? 

Indeed, we have challenges that strangulate the adoption of innovative technologies in Liberia. However, we have made some strides that have created the enabling environment for the implementation of new systems and technologies that could help us leapfrog our economic development.

 Immediate rejection of efforts to modernize processes only stagnates our efforts to transcend traditional ways of doing things to achieve modernity. Liberians need to first garner an understanding of innovative technologies before deciding on whether to accept or reject them, and not base their decision(s) on those of others who have personal reasons for rejecting these new systems/technologies. 

On the other hand, those implementing or attempting to diffuse technology in a society like Liberia with high illiteracy rate, infrastructure, and governance challenges, must ensure that proper, awareness, education and training are given to the end-users before such technologies are deployed. With the right information there might be little resistance toward the implementation of innovation technologies, new policies, etc. It is for this reason; I use the following paragraphs to provide some insight into EVR systems and their impact on Liberia. 

Truth be told, the National Elections Commission (NEC) did a horrible job at creating awareness for the use of EVR systems in Liberia. Whether it was due to the lack of resources, or just poor planning, they did not do an excellent job at creating awareness. However, based on what I have learned about the implementation of the system (the technical aspect), I can cautiously say that the folks at NEC have done an excellent job so far. But we can talk about that little. For now, let us talk a bit about EVR systems.

While the EVR system are new to Liberia, they have been and are still being used in many countries, and they have helped improved those countries’ electoral processes. EVR systems can significantly reduce voter fraud and increase efficiency. 

They can quickly and accurately verify the identity of a voter and determine whether a voter is eligible to vote or not. Additionally, the EVR systems can store data securely, reducing the likelihood of tampering or manipulation, and they can streamline the registration process, thereby reducing the workload for electoral officials and ensuring that voters are registered promptly.

However, there are reasons others would want to reject or oppose the use of an EVR system in Liberia.  EVR systems are susceptible to hacking and other forms of cyber-attacks. They can be compromised by malicious actors, compromising the integrity of the electoral process. Since they are man-made, there is a possibility that they could lead to errors or glitches, causing significant delays or other issues. An EVR system could exacerbate existing inequities in the voting process, making it more difficult for certain groups of people to vote. 

There are other concerns about EVR systems that make some individuals apprehensive about their adoption and use. Concerns about data privacy and lack of transparency have been heard via several media and other outlets. And the fact that Liberia does not have laws to govern EVR systems, has also been of concern to many. 

The good thing about an EVR system is that they have biometrics which can be used for two main purposes: De-duplication or registries, and Identification, especially for identifying a voter at a polling station on Election Day. 

Many Liberians who have knowledge of EVR systems are disappointed that we did not get the full implementation of the system. They had expected biometrics to be used on Election Day. This is not possible now, based on what I learned listening to the folks at NEC. 

However, we are hoping that some mechanisms are put in place to verify voters’ identity on Election Day. Some countries use barcode or card readers on Election Day to check that the voter belongs to the polling location in question, but these do not include biometric checks. They are solely a means to replace a paper voter list and the time it takes to find a person on the list with a faster, electronic solution. While this may sound disappointing, it is at least a way to check. 

The controversy surrounding the EVR systems is not unique to Liberia. Countries around the world have grappled with similar debates, with some implementing the system and others choosing not to. In some western countries, the USA for example, some states have adopted EVR systems, while others have opted for traditional paper-based registration. Eventually, we will all have to adopt these innovative technologies, so why wait, or delay the inevitable? 

That is, it for now! Until next week, Carpe diem!!!