The Independent Electoral Commission chairman Alhaji Momar Njai has called for a shift to paper ballot system to help save resources.

The Gambia currently used a colonial-era marble voting system. 

Speaking to reporters yesterday, the chairman said the current marble voting system is costly as compared to a paper ballot system.

“As you all know it has been mentioned here by me and others…in these elections and subsequent elections particularly when you have the local government elections where you have more and more candidates,” he said.

“It is high time for us to migrate to paper balloting. This is why it has been my call all the time because these are not the 1950s and 60s.”

He said that the commission spent two million dalasis per candidate just for ballot drums in the December 4th 2021 presidential election. 

He suggested the council might incur similar cost in the upcoming National Assembly elections. 

“Those who have been out of the country can attest to it. The papers will have all the names, symbols, pictures and details of candidates, all you need to do is tick or thumbprint, it is that simple,” he added.

He said the IEC is committed to promoting and conducting free and fair elections based on democratic principles and practices.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba