NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 1 – The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has now effectively dropped plans to acquire Biometric Voter Registration kits and will instead use the Optical Mark Reader.
A statement from the commission stated that the Optical Mark Reader, which was utilised in the 2010 referendum will instead be used to undertake the registration process.
The IEBC further assured that the OMR register, which has over 12.4 million voters, is valid.
OMR devices work with a dedicated scanner device that shines a beam of light onto the registration forms.
The contrasting reflectivity at predetermined positions on a page is then used to detect the marked areas because they reflect less light than the blank areas of the paper.
The IEBC will also employ a large number of clerks for longer periods during the voter registration period and continue to use Electronic Voter registration where they were piloted.
Voter registration is now due to commence after three by-elections set for September 17 in Kangema, Ndhiwa and Kajiado North.
More to follow…
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