#Elections2025 : Cameroon’s electoral body goes online — but can it earn citizens’ trust? 🇨🇲🗳️📱

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Every election year in Cameroon, all eyes turn to Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) — the body in charge of managing the electoral process. This time, alongside the usual public notices and posters on the walls of local offices, the institution is leaning harder into digital tools to inform and guide voters.

One click to check your voter registration 💻

No more trekking to your local ELECAM office just to confirm if your name is on the voters’ list. For some time now, the agency has invited citizens to verify their voter status online via a dedicated platform. Enter your national ID number, and you can confirm your registration or flag any errors.

The feature is particularly popular among young voters and Cameroonians in the diaspora.

“I live in France, and thanks to the site, I was able to confirm that I’m registered in my polling center in Yaoundé. It’s reassuring to know I don’t need a middleman for something like this. We don’t have online voting yet, but at least my name is on the list. If I manage to travel during the elections, I’ll vote,” says Ernest, who’s been living abroad for three years.

Social media as an election barometer 📊

Beyond its website, ELECAM now feeds its Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and even WhatsApp channels with real-time updates on the electoral process — from the number of candidates to voter distribution stats and reminders of legal provisions. The goal is clear: project transparency through digital channels.

“I never thought I’d follow ELECAM on Facebook, but now I do. During the candidacy submission period, the lists were updated by the minute. It’s a real change from the usual official speeches,” says Boris, a young voter.

This digital visibility, almost nonexistent a few years ago, is quickly becoming essential for reaching voters where they’re most active — on their phones. Press releases and decisions are no longer confined to newspapers and radio broadcasts; they’re pushed directly to your feed. Some political enthusiasts have even turned on notifications to make sure they don’t miss a single post.

Progress, but expectations remain high 📌

While the platform is praised for its simplicity, some users point to persistent shortcomings. Many report difficulties accessing the voter verification site or finding outdated information. Others wish ELECAM were more responsive online.

“I asked a question on their Facebook page and got no reply. Posting without engaging with us doesn’t really help. We have questions that deserve answers,” laments Sandra, a voter.

Still, the initiative is widely seen as a step toward a more open, citizen-focused administration. For many, refreshing ELECAM’s page has become a habit — hoping to see a fresh “posted 1 minute ago” update.

“I’m not letting go, especially since August 11, 2025, was the deadline to pick party colors and verify logos for campaign kits. We’re entering a quieter period now, but we want to know what’s going on. Reading the law is tedious. They should package the information in a way that keeps us engaged,” says Landry, a politics enthusiast.

A digital presence that complements, not replaces, field work 🤝

While digital channels make information more accessible, face-to-face interaction remains critical. ELECAM still organizes field visits, civic education sessions, and in-person consultations at local offices. Online tools work best as a relay — amplifying what happens on the ground.

In Cameroon, where every election cycle brings its share of questions, ELECAM’s digital shift opens a window into the process — and a mirror reflecting citizen expectations. As convenient as it is, an online platform alone won’t erase doubt or suspicion. But it does mark a turning point: an institution that must now listen, inform, and engage under the watchful eyes of a connected population determined to make its voice heard.

With just months to go before the vote, part of the electoral battlefield is already being fought on screens.

Your turn:
Can tech really help rebuild trust in Cameroon’s electoral process? Let us know what you think 🤭