How To Vote In August 9 General Elections- IEBC

With 12 days to go till the August 9, 2022, general elections, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has explained the procedure Kenyans will use to cast their vote at their respective polling stations.

Polling stations across the country will be expected to open at around 6 am and close at 5 pm, even though Kenyans will be expected to queue in droves for the majority of the early hours of the morning.

With queues expected to be long, those who will not have voted by the closing time of the polling stations but will be there by then will be allowed to vote during the extended period.

IEBC registration clerks at Madaraka primary school using the Kenya Integrated Elections Management System (KIEMS) kit. /STANDARD DIGITAL

Viral Tea takes you through the procedure on how to cast your vote in the upcoming elections:

1. Voter enters polling station with ID/Passport

Your National Identification Card or your Kenyan Passport will be required to access the polling station. The ID Card is a mandatory requirement, that is, you cannot enter the station without it.

2. Voter identified and authenticated using the KIEMS kit

The Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) will be used to identify and authenticate the voter electronically through the Electronic Voter Identification (EVID) system. Voter identification ensures that the voter is identified in the voters' register so that they are eligible to cast their vote.

3. Voter issued with 6 stamped ballot papers

After successful identification, the voter will be issued with six ballot papers by an IEBC official, all stamped. The ballot papers have been categorised into presidential, gubernatorial, senatorial, Members of Parliament, Woman Representatives, and Members of the County Assembly candidates.

4. Voter marks the ballot papers secretly

After being issued the ballot papers, the voter then moves to a temporary enclosed structure where they will mark the ballot papers with the candidate of their choice. This is either done using a tick (✓) or a cross (✗) against the name and symbol of a voter’s candidate.

The symbol is either of the party or an independent candidate. A voter should only mark once using one symbol and mark inside the box.

5. Voter casts ballot papers in the labelled ballot boxes.

After marking the ballot papers, a voter then proceeds to the allocated ballot boxes to cast their vote. This is done by folding the papers one by one to maintain the secrecy of their vote.

The voter then places each of the six papers into the six respective boxes in line with the colour of the papers. He or she must place each vote in the correct ballot box while the Presiding Officer and party agents are watching to avoid scenarios of a spoilt vote.

6. Voter's finger marked with indelible ink

After voting, the voter proceeds towards the exit but one thing remains, having your finger marked with ink to show proof that you have voted.

This is done by a clerk who marks the small finger on the left hand or the space between the index finger and the middle finger in case of nail polish with indelible ink, meaning it cannot be removed easily. This is to prevent cases whereby a voter votes two times and the ink is meant to last for some hours.

7. Voter leaves the polling station

After voting, the voter proceeds to the exit of the polling station. The voter can do other activities such as go home, back to work or any other activity but not remain at the polling station.

Once the process is over, the voter waits for the final results after the Presiding Officers at the station compile the votes and forward the results to the Returning Officer, who announces them.

The final results of the presidential elections in particular are announced by IEBC chairperson, Wafula Wanyonyi Chebukati during a televised address.