Decimal, a technology company based in Lagos, Nigeria created a mobile application called Election Monitor to help volunteers, observers, political candidates and citizens monitor elections providing first hand data, and results from each polling unit in Nigeria.
The hope is that all Nigerians can collectively help crowd-source information on election results in real time as they are announced at the respective polling units, providing an unbiased view into election data and behavior in Nigeria and even other parts of Africa.
How does the Election Monitor app work?
At the moment, the app can be used by representatives and volunteers from independent bodies or political parties that have signed up to the service.
The reps can then sign-in to the mobile app, select their polling unit and send in the results as they are announced by the election officials at each poll.
Results are calculated as they are collected along with photo and video evidence at the polls in real time and can be viewed on an online dashboard instantly anywhere in the world.
The results can be sent in with or without internet connection using a robust USSD infrastructure. Election information can still be sent even from remote areas with little or no internet coverage.
Here’s a quick video on how the app works:
The election monitor app is available for free download on the Play store (iOS will launch soon).