INEC to Roll Out Downloadable PVCs, Full Online Voter Registration Ahead of 2027 Polls

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to introduce downloadable Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for eligible voters who lose or damage their original cards, alongside a fully online voter registration system, as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections.

INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan disclosed the plans on Wednesday while receiving the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, during a courtesy visit to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

According to Amupitan, the digital initiatives form part of the commission’s broader efforts to modernise Nigeria’s electoral system and make voter registration more accessible.

He clarified, however, that the downloadable PVC initiative would not apply to first-time registrants or individuals who have never collected a physical voter card.

“It is not every PVC that is downloadable. You must have gotten your PVC before and it must be that the PVC is lost, defaced or if you cannot read your numbers there,” he said.

The INEC chairman explained that eligible voters seeking downloadable replacement PVCs would be required to formally report the loss or damage of their cards at least 90 days before an election to allow the commission sufficient time to process the request.

He disclosed that the commission plans to pilot the technology during the Osun State governorship election scheduled for August before considering wider deployment.

Amupitan also revealed that INEC is putting the finishing touches on a technology that will enable eligible Nigerians to complete the entire voter registration process online without visiting any INEC office or registration centre for physical enrolment.

“We have also been working on the technology that is going to make it possible for the registration of voters online without even having to visit INEC local government or registration areas.

“So hopefully in the next few days, we will be testing it as soon as the commission approves it,” he said.

According to him, the planned digital reforms are intended to reduce barriers to voter registration, minimise cases of disenfranchisement and ensure that every eligible Nigerian who wishes to register can do so more conveniently ahead of future elections.