By Saio Marrah
In a bid to end election violence and observe the NACOVERC precautionary measures, the Institute of Public Management and Administration (IPAM) will be holding its first online student Union (SU) election on Saturday 18th September, 2021.
Speaking at the college campus, the Acting Deputy Registrar, Brima Bah, said they have already demonstrated the use of the online voting system to the student since it the first time it’s being introduced to them.
According to him, this is another module on the university porter. One can use either the University of Sierra Leone application for android devices or the website at www.usl.edu.sl but that they do not have application for the Apple store.
Using PowerPoint presentation, they demonstrated before journalists together with the four presidential candidates and some of their supporters at the news conference, how the app could be used effectively.
Speaking on the magnitude of violence in SU elections across the country which has led to the destruction of the university properties as well as violence against innocent students, he said the online voting system will prevent the physical encounter that leads to violence.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC), Professor Edmond Nonie, while applauding the University’s IT Department for their tremendous job, allayed the fears of the students that the administration will make sure the process be free fair and credible.
He also noted that they had already done three tests and that they had reacted to the various questions being raised.
The Deputy Director of IT department, Michael Kamara noted that they will be working with the finance department to know those that have paid their fees and that an email message will be sent to them with a code they will use to vote.
He also pointed out that mobile phone will be used once to cast a vote, but computer devices can be used by more than one person to cast their votes. He also said that once one having voted, it will not allow the same individual with the same registration number to vote again.
The Director of Communication and Media relations of the University of Sierra Leone, Dr. Tonya Musa noted that they had been popularizing the system via the main stream media and that a step by step demonstration on how to use the porter system to cast a vote is being explained in a video clip on social media.
A year 3 student from the Banking and Finance Department, Ernest Golley, described it as a good platform and that they had been using the same porter to apply to the university,and their University identification number and registration done using the same porter. He also noted that even though some students were having difficulty to familiarize with the system, he described it as technological advancement.
He also called for more orientation about the system. Golley therefore called on his fellow students to give a try to the system and see how it will work out.
Another year- three student from the Public Sector Management (PSM), as well as a former Secretary General of the past SU administration, Emmanuel Gborie, acknowledged that they had gone through several tests with the IT directorate, and were convinced with the security of the system. He also gave kudos to the IPAM administration for their innovation as it is the first institutions in the country to apply the online voting system.
To him, the credibility of the system will be determined after the electioneering process.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (15/09/21)
