The Nigerian Senate has progressed a bill seeking to amend the Electoral Act 2022 to allow early voting for essential workers, passing it through its second reading.
This legislative proposal, sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua (APC-Katsina Central), aims to enfranchise citizens such as election officials, security personnel, journalists, and observers who are typically unable to vote on Election Day due to their professional duties.
Senator Yar’Adua emphasized that over one million Nigerians are currently disenfranchised during elections because their roles necessitate deployment away from their registered polling units.
He argued that excluding these individuals undermines the integrity of the electoral process and that the bill seeks to correct this by providing provisions for early voting.
He stated that the bill would enhance Nigeria’s democracy by ensuring all eligible citizens can participate in elections, regardless of their professional obligations on Election Day.
Following the debate, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, who presided over the plenary, referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters for further legislative action.
The committee is expected to report back within four weeks.
