ELECAM acquires 1,000 kits to boost voter registration.

The presentation coincided with the start of a workshop to train trainers on the maintenance of the new kits. The training is taking place at 101 Military Airbase in Yaounde, where the kits have been stocked.

Speaking to reporters, the Director General of Elections at ELECAM, Dr Érik Essoussè, noted that the machines are third-generation kits that meet international standards and integrate cutting-edge technologies. 

The deployment of the kits, he said, is part of ELECAM’s strategy to phase out the first-generation kits used since 2012 and partially renewed in 2017. The goal, he added, is to ensure reliable, fast and secure voter registration across the country and in the diaspora.

Technologically upgraded kits

According to the election DG, each of the new biometric kits is a compact yet powerful system engineered for performance under varying environmental conditions. 

Central to the kit, Dr Érik Essoussè stated, is a 13th-generation Dell laptop powered by an Intel processor, designed to handle the heavy data processing involved in biometric enrolment.

Another key feature, he said, is the IB Kojak FAP60 fingerprint scanner, which captures all ten fingerprints with high precision. The machines, he noted, have high-definition Logitech C930 cameras equipped with integrated LED lighting to ensure quality ID photos, even in low-light environments. 

Dr Essoussè also said there is the inclusion of a Bluetooth thermal printer  which allows for immediate document printing, while an NFC reader and GPS tracking device attach to the kits enhance data verification and location accuracy.

Another key feature, he noted, is the autonomy of the kits which is guaranteed by two 20,100 mAh power banks and an 86W solar panel. The features, he said, makes it possible for enrolment of potential voters to continue seamlessly in rural or remote areas without reliable access to electricity. 

He equally explained that, the entire system is housed in an IP67-certified waterproof, dustproof and shockproof case, weighing just nine kilogramme. 

Also included in the package, he said, is a retractable photographic backdrop mounted on a tripod to standardise photo backgrounds during registration, ensuring consistency in voter ID production.

Reinforcing electoral credibility

According to Dr Essoussè, the kits are designed not only to enhance the efficiency of enrolment but also to reinforce the credibility of the country’s electoral system. 

“These new acquisitions offer a secure, reliable and modern experience for every Cameroonian wishing to register to vote. They are a demonstration of ELECAM’s commitment to transparency and electoral integrity," he stated. 

He noted that after configuration, the kits will be deployed to the various regions, consular posts and diplomatic missions to ensure the diaspora is not left out of the digital transformation.

Reiterates need for capacity building 

According to Dr Essoussè, the ongoing training of trainers’ workshop is in a build up to the deployment of the new kits. Participants, he said, are engineers from the Elections Directorate, regional IT heads and their assistants.  The elections DG noted that they are being trained not only in operating the kits but also about their maintenance and troubleshooting.

The training, he said, will unfold in two key phases. The first phase, currently underway, he averred, focuses on equipping top-level technical staff with the skills needed to manage the hardware and software components of the new kits.

Dr Essoussè further noted that, the second phase will extend to all ten regions of the country, involving local IT officers, heads of communal antennae, and kit operators.

The training, he said aims to ensure that field agents are fully equipped to operate the new kits efficiently and uphold standards in data protection.

Announces new voters card production era

According to Dr Essoussè, the technological overhaul is not limited to enrolment alone. ELECAM, he said, has also integrated a powerful new card personalisation system, the Persoline MX8100, which was acquired at the end of 2024. 

He said the system is an industrial-grade machine which allows for centralised, high-volume production of voter cards with full customisation capabilities.

With its modular design, the MX8100, he noted, can handle colour and monochrome printing, front-and-back lamination, and rigorous quality inspection. 

Dr Essoussè noted that it also includes advanced security features such as locking systems, verification cameras, and a software interface that monitors the production process in real time.