Knowing who is on your ballot is only half of it. The other half is making sure you can actually vote. Every cycle, millions of eligible Nigerians discover too late that they are not registered, their PVC is uncollected, or they are registered in a place they no longer live. Here is how to sort all of that out — it takes about five minutes to start.
1. Register, transfer, or replace your card
Everything below is handled through INEC's Continuous Voter Registration (CVR):
- New voter? If you will be 18 by election day and have never registered, begin the online pre-registration, then complete it in person at a registration centre.
- Moved? If you have changed state, city, or address since you registered, apply for a transfer so your PVC works where you now live.
- Lost or damaged card? Request a replacement — take your details and any reference slip to the centre.
- Wrong details? Fix a misspelt name, wrong date of birth, or poor photo so your card matches your ID at accreditation.
According to INEC's published timeline, Continuous Voter Registration closes 30 August 2026. After that date you cannot register for the 2027 elections — so do not leave it to the last week. Always confirm the latest dates at inecnigeria.org.
2. Find your polling unit
Your PVC is tied to a specific polling unit. Knowing it in advance — and confirming it has not been reassigned — saves you hours on election day. INEC's voter-verification and polling-unit tools let you check by your details or your PU code.
3. Know the two election days
Nigeria's general election runs in two rounds: the Presidential and National Assembly elections come first, with Governorship and State Assembly elections following about two weeks later. Mark both on your calendar — many voters turn out for the first and forget the second, even though the second shapes their daily governance most directly.
Your five-minute checklist
- Confirm you are registered (and at the right address).
- Collect your PVC, or request a replacement/transfer if needed.
- Note your polling unit and how to get there.
- Save both election dates.
- Look up everyone on your ballot — top to bottom.
We built our Voter Readiness Hub to walk you through the registration steps and hand off to INEC's official portals, with a live countdown to the deadline.
PoliticsDirect is non-partisan and not affiliated with INEC. Voter registration and polling-unit services are operated by INEC; we only point you to the official portals.