Title
Biometric Technology For Voter Identification: The Experience In Ghana
Abstract
Our study examines how and why Ghana's first attempt to use biometric technology for voter identification and verification in its 2012 general elections failed. We employ activity theory as the analytical lens and interpretive case study as the methodology. Our findings show that the effectiveness of biometric technology to provide reliable identification does not depend solely on its technical qualities but also on real-time connectivity between registration centres and an electronic national register. Furthermore, the electoral officials need to be trained intensively to operate the machines and given guidance on how to handle situations when breakdowns occur. While biometric technology does introduce powerful capabilities, it is just one piece of a complex human activity system.
Year
DOI
Venue
2018
10.1080/01972243.2017.1414720
INFORMATION SOCIETY
Keywords
Field
DocType
biometric technology, national identification system, voter identification, democratic elections, interpretive case study, activity theory, Ghana
Sociology,Knowledge management,Biometrics,General election
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
34
2
0197-2243
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
0
0.34
22
Authors
2
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
John Effah11712.26
Emmanuel Debrah200.34