INEC Extends Nationwide Voter Registration, Introduces Fully Online Self-Service Portal

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise by two weeks and announced the introduction of a fully online self-service registration platform for eligible first-time voters.

The Commission disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday, stating that the CVR exercise, which began on August 18, 2025, and was scheduled to end on Friday, July 10, 2026, will now run until Friday, July 24, 2026.

According to INEC, the extension followed a review of the exercise and feedback from its state offices, political parties, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders.

The Commission said the additional period is intended to give more eligible Nigerians who are yet to register the opportunity to be included in the National Register of Voters ahead of future elections.

INEC also announced that from Wednesday, July 8, 2026, eligible first-time voters will be able to register through a fully online self-service platform accessible via cvr.inecnigeria.org. The Commission said the platform will allow applicants to complete their voter registration, including biometric capture, using their personal devices from anywhere without visiting an INEC office.

“The extension underscores the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that every eligible Nigerian has a fair and reasonable opportunity to be included in the Register of Voters,” the statement said.

INEC urged all eligible but unregistered Nigerians to take advantage of both the extended registration period and the new digital registration option.

“The Commission remains committed to a credible, inclusive and accessible voter registration process, and to advancing the use of technology to improve citizens’ experience in the electoral process,” the statement added.