I really should consider there is a technical and authorized variation in between duplication and various registration in a voter registration database. The previous in my opinion is induced by the software error which is technological and the other is fraudulent which is authorized and felony. Of training course, various registration will build duplicated registration but a duplicated registration does mean there has been numerous registration. What is the Electoral Fee (EC) trying to do? In both situations the EC has inquiries to reply.
From my being familiar with of the essential reward of biometric databases as a verification instrument, numerous registration need to not have transpired in the registration workout except the Electoral Fee (EC) was doing work offline and not on line and real time. To function offline then defeats the total approach of investing in this new technology by the EC as a preventive software if we meant to safeguard the integrity of the voters register. To get the job done on the net means we ought to be working with application error only in the de-duplication exercise. Since I am not much too guaranteed what the EC has in intellect, I will offer with what in my viewpoint we need to hope to be accomplished in each scenarios to give us the desired confidence in the integrity of the EC method.
DUPLICATION Mistake BY EC Application Computer software
It is very achievable for the software application by the EC to develop replicate info. This could be thanks to lots of good reasons together with the procedure freezing through processing and person recapturing pondering it has not been saved. This is incredibly technological and it comes about in info capture but the audit path or technique log should really be able to reveal accurately that this was the scenario. In truth, this ought to have been detected on the remaining finish of day report that was printed at the various registration centers. After there ended up no duplicated names on the print outs then there are unable to be the challenge of duplicated names. So in my impression, duplicate names should really be dominated out leaving duplicated biometrics which I will deal with under several registration.
All over again, if the registration in the many elements of the place was completed offline and have to be merged or migrated into a person database base, an software error can build duplications. This is also complex and can be internally solved by the EC. The concern is why was it performed offline? if we wished the whole benefit of a biometric databases as a fraud preventive device by way of verification. Was it price tag chopping? Is that we did not have the assets to do the new register as it need to have been carried out? Was the infrastructure not sturdy plenty of?
DUPLICATION BY Multiple REGISTRATION
The issues we need to talk to the EC is, what was the purpose of employing biometrics for the information capture? We were even instructed our facials was currently being captured. I thought that was to also reduce exact same person applying various names? What took place? Did we use the added benefits of applying biometrics to increase the integrity of our voters sign-up just to get parliamentary approval for resources and then just to do or else? Did we contain in the estimates on line, genuine time information seize? If we did what occurred? If we did not, then how did the EC intend to avoid several registration? In a non-biometric database, it is straightforward for an unique to sign-up in Takoradi and go to Kumasi to register as very well. To protect against this the engineering to be made use of is biometrics. We have to have to check with the EC if we realized this? If we did not, then why this large financial investment in know-how? What was the goal of investing in the facts heart? What is the function of a info heart if the biometric information seize was going to be dispersed and not on the net, serious time and centrally saved to keep away from duplication by way of numerous registration? I thought the EC meant to avert numerous registration by this enormous financial commitment. What occurred? What is this de-duplication about?
WAY Ahead IN THE DE-DUPLICATION Workout
Having technically ruled out duplication of names in a particular registration heart which really should have been detected by the stop of day print out, I guess the de-duplication workout will be finished with regard to detecting a number of biometric registration which should not have occurred in the very first position. In any case, it will be done so what ought to stakeholders expect to be done by the EC?
For the political functions I advocate they insist on the adhering to:
- A print out or copy of the biodata of the matched duplicated biometrics of the information matter in advance of the de-duplication.
- Immediately after the de-duplication, make confident both of those the de-duplicated databases and the legitimate registration tally with the whole voters registered at the registration facilities.
For the voters impacted by the exercising I endorse they insist on their collective Constitutional Appropriate to vote prior to December 07, 2020 as follows:
- The appropriate to be heard in the identify of all-natural justice given that it may perhaps bother on prison offence.
- The proper to obstacle the duplication given that it could be a specialized error by the EC application.
- The suitable to get them re-instated if their names have been expunged from the voters sign-up without having satisfactory clarification or just lead to.
- The right to lawful support to go after their objection in court docket if they truly feel the EC is performing exercises its discretionary powers arbitrary, capriciously or biased by resentment, prejudice and with out due approach.
For the EC I advocate the adhering to:
- Get those people who they assert have completed multiple registration prosecuted prior to the court and not just expunge their names.
The declare by the EC ought to be subjected to the authorized thanks method. The challenge I see right here is it was the obligation of the EC to avert this criminal offense by the new biometric procedure we paid out for. Did they execute their duty?
This reminds me of the policeman who lurks in the curve or below the tree with a pace gun and instantly springs up when you approach that you ended up more than speeding when his visible presence could have prevented the over rushing. In anycase, you are not even absolutely sure if the reading through was yours or that of another vehicle.
Conclusion
From the good reasons presented by the EC to use know-how to clean the aged voters sign up of duplications and/or a number of registrations the the very least they could have finished was to have an on-line, true time info capture program unto a central databases to assure as of the integrity of the method. How can we have duplication in a biometric information capture system? The technology is not erroneous but the implementation is completely wrong. What a squander of assets if you inquire me?
By: Dr Kofi Anokye Owusu-Darko. He holds an EMBA (IT Administration) and LLM(IT & Telecommunication)
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