Does the use of a biometric system guarantee an acceptable election’s outcome? Evidence from Ghana’s 2012 election
Date
2017-07-27
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Studies
Abstract
The article examines how the deployment of a biometric technology
in Ghana’s 2012 election ended in confusion and put the legitimacy
of the election outcome in jeopardy. Analysing data drawn from 100
interviews and 500 surveys on the extent to which the use of a
biometric voter registration and electronic voter verification
technology impacted the election’s outcome, the article found
that the biometric system stimulated high voter participation and
confidence in the electoral process; and served as a forensic
measure against election fraud such as impersonation and
multiple voting. However, the problem caused by electronic voter
verification malfunction, human error and policy manipulation by
polling officials neutralised the efficacy of the biometric
technology as an instrument for achieving an election outcome.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
biometric system, Election result, Ghana, 2012 election