Every Nigerian citizen have the right to live in any part of the country and an important part of voter registration is that an eligible person is advised to register at the centre nearest to his or her residence. This is to make it easy for voters to access and vote on Election Day in the voting unit.

However, if due to relocation you are no longer close to your voting unit and wish to change that, INEC has made provisions for that to be done. Because an individual who has moved to another location outside the unit in which he/she is registered can not vote in his/her new location unless his/her registration is transferred.

This transfer usually takes about fourteen (14) days upon successful submission of the application. The Electoral Officer will contact the applicant when the process is completed for collection of his/her voter’s card.

Procedure for Transfer:

Step 1: The person who intends to transfer his/her registration will apply to INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner of the state where he/she is currently residing through his/her Electoral Officer (EO).

Note: The application should contain the current address and phone number of the applicant as these will assist in allocating the polling unit nearest to him/her as well as for contact purposes respectively.

Step 2: The applicant shall attach a photocopy of his/her Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) to the application and submit at the nearest registration centre nearest to him/her.

Note: The applicant must apply to the Resident Electoral Commissioner in good time, well before 60 days to the election. No transfer can be entertained or granted less than 60 days to the election.

Step 3: If satisfied that the applicant is currently resident in the area, the Resident Electoral Commissioner shall approve the application and direct that the applicant’s details be transferred to his/her new location.

Note: The Commission may require evidence such as Utility Bill for confirmation of your residency.

Step 4: The applicant will be assigned to the nearest polling unit to his/her new residences.

Note: The applicant’s registration and particulars will then be deleted from the register of voters in the previous location.

Step 5: The applicant would be issued with a new Permanent Voter’s Card at the registration centre where he/she submitted his/her application or at any other designated centre by the Commission and the previous one will be retrieved.

Note: When the PVCs are ready, the Commission will make a public announcement to that effect for collection. The applicant should pick up the new PVC in person as collection by proxy is not allowed.