Debate on manual back-up system in polls is nonsensical

Imagine for a moment that it is 9.30am, Tuesday the August 8, 2017. Raila Odinga, a Presidential candidate turns up to cast his ballot at Olympic Primary School. Imagine that after extensive protests by CORD, the President did not sign the amended Elections Law.

Consequently, a person can only be allowed to vote if their biometrics are recognised by the Electronic Voter Identification Device (EVID), thus eliminating the risk of “dead voters.” The election officials are however jittery because they are aware that in a number of situations, fortunately not too many, the identification devices have been known to refuse to recognise the biometrics of a legitimate voter.