The IEBC has put measures in place to safeguard against rigging [Photo/Hivisasa]
There are concerns that extra or foreign ballot papers will make their way to the ballot boxes or be used in other polling stations.
With one week left to the elections concerns have been raised that spare ballot papers will find their way into the ballot box.
Here are six reasons why it would not be possible:
First, as opposed to 2013, the ballot papers and result forms have been modified for each polling station making it impossible for one to use foreign ballot material not intended for the polling stationSecond, once the polling station is open the officials in charge will verify with party agents the number of ballot papers and take record of them as well in a day diary; each diary will be given a unique serial number
Afterwards, the ballots that were not used will be recorded by the officer in charge and (those same number of ballots) given to the agents
Third, the officers in charge will work in three-hour intervals throughout the election day and give reports to the officer who is returning about the number of ballots given out
From there the voter turn-out will be matched with the number of ballots given out and any irregularities found will be reported immediately
Officers in charge will be held responsible for any irregularities in the electoral process
Fourth, the KIEMS devices given to the officers in charge will not allow them to send results that exceed the number of voters that have registered at the respective polling station
This will safeguard from additional ballots being added to the ballot box while also preventing the system from being rigged.
Fifth, procedures have been implemented by the commission to cancel any results from polling stations that exceed the number of voters that have registered.
This was also put in place as a backup just in case the KIEMS devices fail to do their work, thus further safeguarding from additional ballots being added.
Sixth, Agents for each party or political aspirant will be held responsible for any election malpractices.
The same way Kenyans are relying on the commission to do its job in conducting free and fair elections, they are also given the responsibility of holding agents and observers accountable for ensuring all election rules are followed to the letter.