ICT in African elections is a mixed bag
While mature electoral systems have successfully adopted ICT, African experiences have been mixed. There is conflicting evidence about the impact of ICT proficiency on the results of elections in Africa. The prevailing opinion is that adopting digital election processes is a no-brainer; however, in most cases, the results have been otherwise, raising doubts about the skills of those manning IT systems for electoral bodies.
In Nigeria, for example, studies show that voters reacted favorably to ICT in the electoral process. However, another study showed that Tanzanian voters felt the Internet adversely affected election fairness and may have skewed results.
"In Kenya, the response was intense. The deployment of digital technology for electoral purposes was disputed three times in the Supreme Court of Kenya in the 2013, 2017, and 2022 general elections."
Cameroon, a beacon of light
To avoid a repeat of the Kenyan experience, countries like Cameroon have created and adopted a workable ICT Implementation Strategic Plan. Implementing the strategy involves providing election officers with extensive training in digital technology, acquiring the appropriate ICT equipment and setting up a secure infrastructure in field branch offices.
Lack of ICT skills at the heart of bad adoption
Implementing systems like biometric voter registration and identification, e-voting, e-voter registration, electronic counting and related digital infrastructure have exposed major inadequacies in some African electoral processes. Chief among them is the lack of ICT Skills.
Cronyism and political interference at the heart of sabotage
That said, the problem goes a lot deeper than just a scarcity of skills. It is also a symptom of the culture and design of elections management in Africa. Politically, most African elections, whether managed manually or electronically, are designed to favor the incumbents.
What skills are needed for the future of African elections?
The landscape of technology-driven elections is fast mutating. With the current deficits, there is a need for adequate digital skills if Africa is to be recognized for effective handling of elections. Proficiency in cybersecurity is essential for protecting election systems from cyberattacks, while data analytics skills allow for the intelligent analysis of voter data.
How do we move forward?
In order to effectively tackle the issues of ICT proficiency and election oversight in Africa, it is critical to concentrate on confronting the obstacles to implementation, closing the digital gap and strengthening cybersecurity protocols. Underpinning this should be legislative amendments that prioritize skills-based selection for ICT roles to shape the legal environment for electoral management.
