Information on residency requirements for voting in local and state elections and on the procedure for voter's registration [NGA22288.E]

A Nigerian-born professor of African politics at the University of Texas in Houston told the DIRB during a 14 November 1995 telephone interview that people eligible to vote in local or state elections would only be registered to vote in their district of residence and that nobody is allowed to register in a constituency where he/she does not reside (14 Nov. 1995). Electoral lists are prepared by local government officials who invite the public to come and register at a specific location within a local community, normally a public school (ibid.). Officials responsible for the electoral lists are people who know their community very well and sometimes register people who were absent from the community at the time of registration (ibid.).

A Nigerian-born professor of Journalism at Michigan State University in Lansing, Michigan told the DIRB during a 16 November 1995 telephone interview that there is no door-to- door voters' registration for local and state elections. In order to be registered as voters, people must show up at the registration office located in a public school for the period of registration (ibid.). The are no provisions for the registration of absent people and no one can be registered ouside of his/her constituency of residence (ibid.). In order to be registered as a voter, one must prove that he/she has been living in the constituency for the last two years and that the dates shown on local tenement tax and electricity bills receipts could be used as evidence (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References


Professor of African Studies, University of Texas, Houston. 14 November 1995. Telephone interview.

Professor of Journalism, Michigan State University, Lansing, Michigan. 16 November 1995. Telephone interview.