As technology evolves and artificial intelligence shapes our world, democratic institutions, EMB and other organizations need to adapt. This session brought together leading organizations committed to democratic and civic innovation to identify opportunities and advancements in electoral technology. Through engaging dialogue, the event explored how to ensure secure and accessible elections for all and how advancements in civic tech can be harnessed to enhance the participation of youth, women, and people with disabilities.
Highlights encompassed the Kenyan Electoral Commission’s (IEBC) remarkable transformation of its electoral process, which served as a compelling example. Moreover, The Youth Café delved into youth advocacy and policy, emphasizing the critical role of civic technology and its potential to foster greater participation of youth, women, and PWDs. The critical topic of enhanced security systems in software development for elections and other essential online services was further addressed by engineer Collins Ruto. Then Kelvin Njoroge, CEO at iVoting, showcased the user-friendly nature of the online system, demonstrating how voters can register and cast their ballots conveniently through USSD, a mobile phone technology.
Additional aspects of civic tech discussed in the session include the ethical implementation of AI, measures to ensure that online voting systems do not disenfranchise certain segments of the population, and the overall potential of online voting.
*For more information, please contact Titus Kipkirui (titus.kipkirui@ivoting.co.ke).