Brief 5 : ensuring the electoral process in Cameroon through the biometric system: stakes and challenges of the 2013 legislative and municipal elections

Date

2013-12

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

University for Peace Africa Programme, Addis Ababa, ET

Abstract

The introduction of the biometric system in the management of the electoral process is a major innovation in Cameroon. To combat massive irregularities and shortcomings of electoral lists observed in the organisation of elections, the Cameroon government experimented with biometric registration for the September 2013 council and legislative elections. Considered as an appropriate solution to the problem of multiple registrations on electoral lists as well as multiple votes by one citizen, the biometric system has enabled a recompilation of these lists by Elections Cameroon (|ELECAM) as a means of combating electoral fraud. However, its success was questioned during the last elections due to observed irregularities. This summary note seeks to consider the strengths and weaknesses of the biometric system in the electoral process and to suggest a number of challenges that the Cameroon government and ELECAM must face before, during, and after these elections, using the new biometric tool. It also aims to provide recommendations for the improvement of the system in the country’s electoral process.

Description

Keywords

CAMEROON, DEMOCRATIZATION, ELECTORAL ISSUES, ELECTION VERIFICATION, VOTER REGISTRATION, BIOMETRICS, POLITICAL REPRESENTATION, CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS, PROGRAMME OWNERSHIP, TRAINING PROGRAMMES

Citation

Touse, J. (2013). Brief 5 : Ensuring the Electoral process in Cameroon through the Biometric System: Stakes and Challenges of the 2013 Legislative and Municipal Elections. UPEACE Africa Policy Series, 1(1): 47-53.

DOI