The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has established an online portal as part of its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. This portal, which can be accessed at is https://cvr.inecnigeria.org is designed to make the voter registration process more convenient and efficient. It is not a complete online registration, but rather a "pre-registration" tool that allows you to provide your personal information before visiting a physical registration center.

The portal offers a range of services beyond new voter registration, including:

Voter Information Review: For registered voters to update their details and upload their photo.

Transfer of Voting Location: To change your polling unit if you have moved.

Information Update: To correct or update information on your voter's card.

Replacement of Lost/Damaged PVC: To apply for a new Permanent Voter's Card (PVC).

Checking PVC Collection Status: To find out if your PVC is ready and where to pick it up.

How to Pre-Register for Various Options

The online pre-registration process is a crucial first step for new voters and a convenient way for existing voters to manage their details. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Visit the Portal: Go to the official INEC Continuous Voter Registration portal at https://cvr.inecnigeria.org/.

Get Started: Click on the "Get started" button to begin the process.

Choose Your Option: The portal will present you with several options. Select the one that applies to you:

"New Voter Pre-Registration": If you have never registered to vote before.

"Voter Information Review": If you are a registered voter who needs to review or update your information.

"Transfers": If you want to change your voting location.

"Information Update": If you need to update personal information on your voter's card.

"Lost or Damaged PVC": If you need to request a replacement.

Create an Account: For new users, you will be required to create a personal user portal with your name, mobile number, email, and a password.

 Fill in Your Details: Complete the online form with all the required personal data and information. The portal may also capture your passport photograph.

Schedule an Appointment: After filling out your information, you will be able to choose an appointment date to visit a physical registration center.

Generate Your Slip: Once you have completed the online form and selected your appointment date, generate and print the registration slip. This slip is essential for the next step.

What Happens After the Online Pre-Registration

Online pre-registration is only the first part of the process. The second and final step is a physical visit to a designated registration center.

Visit the Registration Center: On your scheduled appointment date, go to the INEC registration center you selected during the online process. These are typically located at INEC State and Local Government Offices.

Biometric Data Capture: At the center, you will present your pre-registration slip to the INEC officials. They will then capture your biometric data, including your fingerprints and possibly a new photograph if needed. This step is crucial for completing your registration.

Qe1 Your Temporary Voter's Card (TVC): After your biometrics are successfully captured and the process is complete, a Temporary Voter's Card (TVC) will be printed and issued to you.

Wait for Your PVC: The TVC is a temporary document. You will need to wait for your Permanent Voter's Card (PVC) to be produced. INEC will make a public announcement when the PVCs are ready for collection.

Collect Your PVC: When the PVCs are available, you must pick up your card in person at the designated collection center. Collection by proxy is not allowed. The INEC portal also has a feature that allows you to check the status of your PVC and find its collection location.

A Vital Scenario You Must Pay Attention To 

Scene: A voter whose card is lost, picked review information as option during CVR registration, will a card be produced for him?

Fact and Way Out: This is a very important distinction to make when using the INEC portal. The answer is no, a voter cannot make an amendment on the portal after submitting a "review information" application if their primary purpose was to replace a lost card.

Here's a breakdown of why:

The INEC portal is designed with specific services in mind, and a user must select the correct option for their needs. The two options are fundamentally different:

"Voter Information Review" or "Revalidation": This option is for registered voters who need to update their information, such as adding a new photo, or revalidating their existing details on the database. This process is generally for voters who still have their PVC but may have had issues with facial recognition or want to update their information. It is not designed to trigger a new PVC issuance for a lost card.

"Lost or Damaged PVC": This is the correct and specific option for a voter who has lost their Permanent Voter's Card. When a voter selects this option, it initiates a different process entirely. The system recognizes the need to re-issue a PVC and will guide the user through the steps for a replacement.

What happens to the voter in this scenario?

If a voter with a lost card mistakenly chose "Voter Information Review" and submitted the application, they will not be able to get a new PVC from that process. The system will likely just update their record and a new card won't be printed.

The next steps for the voter would be:

 Go back to the INEC Portal: The voter must return to the INEC portal.

Select the correct option: They need to log in to their account and properly choose the "Lost or Damaged PVC" option.

Follow the new instructions: This will lead them through the correct process for requesting a replacement, which will eventually culminate in them being able to collect a new PVC.

The INEC portal is designed to be a streamlined system, and choosing the right option from the beginning is critical to a successful application.

Another Scene:

I'm a Nigerian Living Abroad, No Plan of Going Home Soon, Can I Register Online and Get my Nigerian PVC during this CVR Exercise

Facts: 

Unfortunately, as a Nigerian living abroad with no immediate plans to return home, you cannot complete your voter registration and get a PVC during this Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

Here's why:

The requirement for physical, in-person biometrics: While the INEC portal allows for "pre-registration" online, this is only the first step. The process is not a complete online registration. The second, mandatory step is for you to appear in person at a designated INEC registration center in Nigeria to have your biometrics (fingerprints and a live photo) captured. Without this physical presence, your registration cannot be completed, and you will not be issued a PVC.

Legal framework for residency: The current Nigerian law, specifically the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act, restricts voter registration to citizens who are "ordinarily resident" within Nigeria. This legal barrier is the main reason INEC has been unable to implement a full diaspora voting system.

INEC's position on diaspora voting: INEC has, for many years, expressed its commitment to and desire for diaspora voting. However, the Commission has consistently stated that it cannot implement such a system without the necessary legal amendments to the Constitution and the Electoral Act by the National Assembly. While there have been ongoing discussions and advocacy for these changes, they have not yet been enacted into law.

In essence, even if you fill out the online forms on the INEC portal, you will be unable to finalize your registration and receive your PVC without physically being in Nigeria to complete the biometric capture.

The online portal is a convenience for Nigerians living within the country to streamline the process and reduce the time spent at registration centers, but it does not remove the essential in-person requirement.

More Critical Scene:

I'm living in Anambra and I want to Transfer my Voters Card to Kaduna, Can I Complete the Process in Onitsha, Anambra State Including the Physical Part of the Registration?

Fact and Way Out:

No, you cannot complete the physical part of the voter card transfer in Onitsha, Anambra State, if you want to transfer your voting location to Kaduna.

The core principle of a voter registration transfer is that it must be done in the state where you now reside and intend to vote. Here's a breakdown of the process and why your scenario won't work:

The Transfer Process

 Online Pre-registration: You can start the process from anywhere by going to the INEC CVR portal (cvr.inecnigeria.org) and selecting the "Transfers" option. You will fill out your details, including your current address, and indicate that you want to transfer your registration to a polling unit in Kaduna.

The In-Person Requirement: This is the most crucial part. After the online application, you must physically visit a designated INEC registration center in the state you want to transfer to. In your case, this means you must go to an INEC office or a registration center in Kaduna State.

Biometric Capture: At the Kaduna registration center, INEC officials will capture your biometrics (fingerprints and photo) to finalize the transfer and update your record. This physical capture confirms your presence and residency in the new location.

New PVC Issuance: Once the process is complete, INEC will issue you a new PVC with the details of your new polling unit in Kaduna. Your old record in Anambra will be deleted to prevent double registration.

Why You Can't Do It in Onitsha

The entire purpose of the voter transfer is to establish that you have genuinely moved to a new location and should be on the voter list for that new area. Allowing you to complete the physical part in a different state (Anambra) would contradict this fundamental principle. The physical part of the transfer is not just a formality; it is INEC's way of verifying that you are a resident of the new location.

Therefore, to successfully transfer your voter's card from Anambra to Kaduna, you must physically travel to Kaduna and complete the process there.