Extension of ECOWAS biometric cards: the right to vote for first-time voters and territorial elections at the heart of debates in the National Assembly

Beyond purely administrative and technical aspects, the examination of draft law no. 21/2026 amending the law on the ECOWAS biometric identity card raised significant political issues this Tuesday during a plenary session at the National Assembly. Parliamentarians questioned the government about the electoral status of first-time voters and the direct impact of extending the validity of the cards on the schedule of the upcoming territorial elections.

One of the major points of concern lies in the status of young citizens reaching voting age. They may possess a valid ECOWAS biometric card bearing the inscription "CANNOT VOTE" due to the lack of prior registration on the electoral lists.

The commissioners therefore demanded a diligent update of electoral data to guarantee the effective exercise of the right to vote, while asking the minister to clarify whether the extension of the identity card automatically applies to its function as a voter card.

Focus on the 2027 territorial elections and revision of the lists

The question of the electoral calendar also punctuated the discussions, supported by the reminder of the budgets included in the 2026 finance law, including 1.016 billion FCFA for the material organization of the polls, 472 million FCFA for the operation of the Directorate General of Elections (DGE) and 2.219 billion FCFA allocated to phase 2 of the production of biometric cards.

In response to these concerns, the Minister of the Interior and Public Security, Mouhamadou Makhtar Cissé, sought to reassure the public, stating that the technical extension of identity cards and the holding of territorial elections are two strictly separate processes. He asserted that, should elections be held in January 2027, the current biometric cards will allow citizens to fulfill their civic duty without hindrance.

Regarding a possible exceptional revision of the electoral lists, the minister recalled the legal framework: the ordinary revision takes place every year from February to July, while the exceptional revision can only be formally triggered after the official setting of the date of the election by presidential decree.