Five students from the University of Malawi (UNIMA have developed an advanced electronic voting system to enhance transparency and accountability of results during elections.
The students are Enock Mvula, Francis Mkwinyambale, Jason Luka, Lyford Manolo and Coretta Chimwaza.
Team leader for the grouping Mvula said the electronic voting system with fingerprint scanners and touch screens works by first having voters’ fingers scanned to register and verify their identity.
The Bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering student at the University of Malawi said once verified, the voter uses a touch screen to vote.
The 23-year-old innovator adds: “This initiative was aimed at enhancing the election process by valuing transparency and public trust.”
The young innovator told ProjectM that the system is cost effective as there is no need for extra ballot papers and paid labour.
“This high level of technology, will ably bring about cost savings by streamlining those processes, making the elections more financially sustainable in the long run. With the overgrowing population it was becoming difficult to handle the voting process as an increase in voters would have increased the cost of traditional voting,” said Enock.
However, he admitted that getting public trust with the system is likely to be one of the challenges to affect the system.
Said Mvula: “We are happy to say that our project has received significant support from the University, including access to resources, materials and guidance from the faculty.
“This project has taken us almost three months to get to the bottom of the matter and we are profoundly grateful to the management for the support rendered to us for the past three months we have been implementing this project.”
Talking about materials for making the system, the Mzuzu-based young man said they can be found locally while others can be accessed in other countries.
For more details on this project, you may contact Enock Mvula on: +265 887 24 90 34
