The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) is the electronic device INEC uses to verify voters on election day. It was introduced in 2021 and used nationwide for the first time in the 2023 elections.
How BVAS Works:
- 1.Fingerprint scanning — Your fingerprints are matched against the database
- 2.Facial recognition — Your face is compared to your registration photo
Both modes must confirm your identity before you can receive a ballot paper.
Why BVAS Matters: Before BVAS, accreditation was done manually using paper registers. This made it easy to manipulate voter lists, inflate numbers, and allow impersonation. BVAS eliminates most of these forms of fraud by requiring physical biometric verification.
BVAS and IReV: After voting, BVAS is used to upload polling unit results directly to INEC's Result Viewing Portal (IReV). This means results are available publicly within hours of voting — before they can be tampered with during collation.
For 2027: INEC has committed to using BVAS for all elections. The technology will be refined based on lessons from 2023, where some units experienced delays due to network connectivity and battery issues. Your right to be verified is constitutional.