EC assures public: Stolen biometric device cannot compromise elections

In a statement released today, the Commission responded to the arrest of 52-year-old Samuel Yaw Koranteng, who was found with a BVD believed to belong to the EC. While the incident is being taken seriously, the Commission made it clear that such devices, without the necessary technical and security protocols, are ineffective for manipulating election results.

“The possession of a BVD that has not gone through this rigorous process that is yet to happen for the 2024 Elections does not affect the integrity of the Elections,” the EC stated, underscoring that each device is rigorously prepared and securely activated for specific elections.

The Commission detailed the multiple layers of security involved in the use of BVDs, including the necessity of an Activation Code from the EC’s secure system, which is only accessible to authorized election officials. Without this code and the proper voter data, a BVD cannot function on election day.

Furthermore, the EC clarified that BVDs are solely used for voter verification, not for casting votes, ensuring that even if a device were stolen, it would not be capable of affecting the voting process.