Progress is being made in Liberia toward implementing biometric voter ID.
The UN Development Programme (UNDP), the Liberian government, and the World Bank have collaborated on a ground-breaking project to provide biometric identification cards to all Liberians. Over half of Liberia's population is thought to be without access to conventional forms of identification, making the timing of the rollout of this ambitious scheme important.
The goal of this initiative is to eliminate the need for lengthy journeys and cumbersome procedures that necessitate official documents like passports or birth certificates by providing each person with a recognized identity card that can be authenticated by referencing multiple data points from sources like family members, community members, or superiors. Access to government-provided services, such as those in the fields of education and healthcare, would be simplified as a result.
Voter fraud is rampant in Liberia.
There is a persistent and growing issue of voter fraud in Liberia, and it is not going away anytime soon. Unfortunately, the resources to counteract such fraud are rudimentary at best. While the nation has seen some success with biometric voter registration since its inception in 2008, more has to be done to satisfy demand and avert major problems at polling places on election day.
Voting is currently done manually in Liberia. At the polling venue, voters are given a paper ballot, which they deposit in a computerized box. Because of the possibility for manipulation and fraud on the part of political friends and election officials, this system presents a serious threat.
When it comes to combating voter fraud, Liberia may benefit greatly from biometric technology.
There have been significant attempts by the Liberian administration since the new year to tighten up security for the country's upcoming elections. Polling places must be protected and modern biometric voter registration systems must be put in place to ensure the safety of voters. New identification cards must also be created.
Initiation of biometric voter ID cards was announced as the first step of the initiative on March 20th. These cards will be used at polling places in this year's elections, and when electronic voting machines become widely available, they will replace paper votes entirely. Next month, when polling places open, this innovative method might help prevent fraud by guaranteeing that only qualified voters are afforded the opportunity of casting a ballot, or at least reduce the anxiety associated with voting with forged identification papers.
The Biometric Voter Registration System was Deployed in Yemen by M2SYS.
In 2014, with the help of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, Yemen's Supreme Commission of Elections and Referendum (SCER) chose M2SYS Technology's TrueVoter biometric voter registration system (IFES). 14 million voters were registered for the election using this BVR technology, which could register and match fingerprint, finger vein, palm vein, iris, and face templates. Increased confidence in Yemen's democratic institutions and a decrease in election disputes were achieved with the help of TrueVoter.
Conclusion
Digital identification technology, according to the Liberian administration, would drastically cut down on election fraud. The group also believes that if they guarantee the authenticity and safety of everyone's identities, more individuals would be open to using the system.
Count on M2SYS, a Proven Leader in Biometric Voter Registration Technology.
Biometric voter registration initiatives of any sort may rely on M2SYS's comprehensive, end-to-end biometric turnkey solutions. Our "Turnkey" service includes your choice of biometric hardware and a matching engine. Our multi-award winning technology offers safe and simple identification options for interactions and transactions, backed by over two decades of expertise in the field of biometric identity management.