US EditionElectoral Act: Reps move to make voting compulsory for all Nigerians
- On May 15, 2025, the House of Representatives approved legislation aimed at requiring all eligible Nigerian citizens to participate in voting by modifying the Electoral Act of 2022.
- The bill was introduced by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and co-sponsored by Daniel Ago to address low voter turnout and widespread doubts about vote credibility.
- During the plenary debate, Ago led discussions supporting the bill’s goal to increase electoral participation and reduce vote buying, while PDP lawmaker Mark Esset opposed it citing lost voter confidence.
- Esset emphasized that implementing compulsory voting should not be done on an unstable basis and highlighted the importance of citizens having confidence that their votes have real impact.
- If enacted, the legislation could improve civic engagement and reduce voter apathy, but critics warn compulsory voting alone will not restore trust in the electoral system.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Electoral Act: Reps move to make voting compulsory for all Nigerians
A bill seeking to amend the Electoral Act 2022 to make voting mandatory for all eligible Nigerians has passed second reading in the House of Representatives. The bill, jointly sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Daniel Ago, was presented during Thursday’s plenary. While leading the debate, Ago explained that the legislation aims to boost citizens’ participation in elections, arguing that it could help reduce voter apathy if it successfully p…
Who Votes in Brazil? Social and Economic Determinants of Participation - The New Global Order
The Electronic Voting Machine (EVM).Source: Tânia Rêgo/Agência Brasil. In Brazil, voting is mandatory for most of the adult population, being optional only for young people aged 16 to 17, people over 70, and illiterate individuals. Even so, between 2014 and 2024, the abstention rate in elections showed a growth trend, reaching 29.26% in the second round of the 2024 elections, according to data from the Superior Electoral Court (TSE). This was th…
Bill to jail non-voters scales second reading in House of Reps
The proposed legislation jointly sponsored by Speaker Abass Tajudeen and Daniel Ago scaled the second reading stage, yesterday, during plenary. The proposed legislation particularly seeks to amend the Electoral Act 2022. Ago, who spoke on the general principle of the bill, argued that the initiative would address the persistent issue of voter apathy in the country. Decrying appalling level of voter apathy, he maintained that balloting should be …
Compulsory Voting Bill Is Draconian, Says Yiaga Africa Director
The Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, has criticized a proposed bill seeking to make voting mandatory for all eligible Nigerians, describing the provision of a six-month jail term for non-compliance as “draconian” and a threat to democratic freedoms. The bill, jointly sponsored by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and lawmaker Daniel […] The post Compulsory Voting Bill Is Draconian, Says Yiaga Africa Director appeare…
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