JKUAT Students Develop a System to Curb Election Malpractices

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JKUAT Students Develop a System to Curb Election Malpractices

The malpractices experienced during elections in Kenya could be a thing of the past if an automatic voting system is used. Such a system has been developed by a team of caring youth studying in the Department of Mechatronics at JKUAT. This system was a major attraction during the recently concluded Central Kenya ASK show. The system will be on display at the Nairobi International Trade Fair beginning on September 28th 2009.

The Automatic Voting System (AVS) is both an inventive and innovative electronic voting system that eliminates electoral process discrepancies such as rigging. The AVS is a stand-alone system (not networked) consisting of a touch screen, printer and ballot box as the only devises available to the voter ensuring that no tempering of the system is done.

The first step in the application of the AVS is voter registration. This is much like the current registration practice that takes place before an election. However, unlike the current system, in addition to the usual details like name and ID number, the left thumb fingerprint of a voter is stored electronically. During during voting, a voter logs in by placing their left thumb on a thumb sensor. If that fingerprint matches the one stored during registration, the electing process starts, otherwise access is denied.

The voter to whom access is granted, selects their candidate of choice by touching the candidate’s picture which is placed along the candidate’s name, confirm their choice and a vote is printed. The voter then casts the ballot into a transparent ballot box. The vote has a unique code which is checked as the vote is being cast into the ballot box. The ballot box incorporates a scanner which passes rejection of the vote if it is not the vote just printed.

At the close of the election the system prints out the results of the polls immediately. The AVS is foolproof as it incorporates several stages of tallying; first tallying takes place as polling takes place with the touch screen. Secondly, when the vote is printed and thirdly when the vote is cast. In the event of doubts, physical votes can be counted.

This is a commendable effort by the youth who seem to care about the future of this country. Such initiatives are bound to support the government's development agenda.