Tanzania enrols a record 96% of eligible voters
22,658,247
People registered to vote
8,000
Biometric Registration Kits were supplied
65,105
Voting stations handled the high voter turnout
The 2015 Tanzania Presidential Elections sought the implementation of cutting-edge voter registration and verification technology by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to ensure the legitimacy of the electoral process.
Laxton played a crucial role in developing a platform tailored to the country’s specific needs, providing Biometric Registration Kits (BRKs), training for operators and technicians, and managing the overall project.
Laxton’s solution gathered voter data quickly and reliably from an estimated 24 million eligible voters across Tanzania. A credible Voters’ Roll was developed within the NEC’s set timeframe, scope, mandate, and budget.
Project
Solution: National Elections
Region: Tanzania
Year: 2015
Solutions to inspire voter confidence
In preparation for the next Presidential Elections, Laxton faced the challenge of improving voter turnout in rural areas where traditional voter registration methods had proven ineffective. To address this, Laxton developed a mobile and rugged solution that enabled Election Officials to travel to remote locations and register eligible voters on-site.
The BRKs used were designed with backup batteries and solar power capabilities. This enabled a one-step registration process where voters could register and receive their Voter ID at the same time. This greatly increased the accessibility of voter registration for citizens in remote areas, many of whom had limited resources.
As a result of this innovative solution, voter turnout in rural areas increased significantly, inspiring confidence in the electoral process among citizens and ultimately contributing to the overall success of the 2015 Tanzania Presidential Elections.
End-to-end election management
Laxton and its project partners were tasked with delivering a comprehensive, end-to-end election management solution that would produce a credible and verifiable Voter’s Roll.
A Laxton team in Tanzania provided top-tier customer support throughout the project’s duration. Working closely with the NEC, the team provided technical advice on hardware and software specifications, procurement, global and local logistics, and in-country training.
Training local Kit operators and technicians
The training of thousands of voter Registration Officers and local technicians was a crucial element of the project. Laxton’s technical specialists conducted practical training using the BRKs delivered ahead of time for this purpose.Local technicians were trained to troubleshoot any issues with the technology and perform regular maintenance on the systems. This would enable the government to take control of their equipment after the project was completed.According to Adriaan Booysen, Technical Specialist at Laxton, “The technical training is vital. The knowledge and skills transferred create job opportunities for operators and technicians for the full lifetime of the equipment.”
Data security is paramount
Laxton ensured that the captured data was secure and accurate. Each Registration Officer was issued with unique credentials for the BRK assigned to them. The software was configured to guarantee accurate information capture, encryption, and data storage. After consolidating the information from the regions into a central repository, the software initiated a de-duplication process. This resulted in an accurate and credible Voters Roll.
Record number of voters registered
Before official voter registration, the NEC coordinated hundreds of civil society organisations and community-based groups for voter education. Local radio stations broadcast voter education messages, while the NEC used social media and guidebooks.
To test the technology and the process, the NEC conducted a pilot registration drive in December 2014 in three constituencies in Dar es Salaam, Katavi, and Morogoro. NEC officials and Laxton could observe the process, address any issues and ensure that official registrations would run smoothly.
Official voter registration took place between February and August 2015 and recorded over 22 million verified voters. The European Union’s Election Expert Mission (EEM) observed the enrolments and noted that “free access to the process was granted, with high participation of citizens”.
The NEC and the National Bureau of Statistics declared that 96% of the estimated eligible citizens registered to vote in the 2015 Presidential Elections. This was the highest number since the first democratic elections in 1996.
Tanzania now boasted the most reliable and credible voter register to date, thanks to its streamlined registration process. The official voter register was made available on October 7th, ten days before the legal deadline.
A free and fair election
After months of intense campaigning, Tanzania held its presidential election on October 25th, 2015. The NEC increased the number of polling stations thanks to a higher number of registered voters.
Representatives from the European Union (EU) observed the procedures in all regions and gave a positive assessment, stating that the voting process was efficient, quick, and highly credible.
The NEC officially announced the results on October 30th, with John Magufuli of the CCM declared the winner with 58% of the votes. This was the best performance by an opposition candidate in Tanzania’s modern democratic history.
The Commonwealth Observer Group also approved of the elections, noting that the voter register appeared robust, possibly allaying some anxieties about the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) process. This project exceeded the NEC’s expectations and enabled them to conduct a credible National Election.
“When implemented as a full-service offering, which includes leaving behind the technical know-how, the Identity Systems allow developing nations to join an increasingly connected world,” says Nick Perkins, Chief Sales Officer at Laxton.
