YMonitor Election Series: What Happens When There is Overvoting in a Polling Unit

The general elections are starting on February 28, and it has become more pertinent to educate the citizens on the country’s electoral process. Hence, why we launched the “YMonitor Election Series”.

The YMonitor Election Series is like a torchlight intended to beam light into the dark alley of the electoral process that the people might not be aware of.

First in our YMonitor Election Series is the issue of overvoting. To people who follow Nigerian politics diligently, this might be a familiar term. This term has been the bone of contention in the ongoing court fight on the 2022 Osun state gubernatorial elections.

So what is Overvoting? What are the consequences? Why should it matter to you? We did a breakdown of what you should know about this term.

What does overvoting mean?

The 2022 Act defines overvoting as the number of votes cast in a polling unit exceeding the number of accredited voters rather than the number of registered voters, as stated in the former Act.

What is the consequence of overvoting?

The Presiding Officer will cancel the election result in such a polling unit.

How can we prevent overvoting?

Accreditation: Ensure that only eligible voters who have been accredited are allowed to vote. This can be done through the use of BVAS.

Voter Education: Educate voters on the importance of not overvoting and the consequences of doing so.

Polling Unit Monitoring: Have adequate number of polling unit monitors to observe the voting process and report any over-voting incidences.

Strict Enforcement of Electoral Laws: Ensure that electoral laws are strictly enforced and those who engage in overvoting are held accountable.