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A group of inventive students from Mashati Secondary School has created a digital voting system that could reshape how people participate in elections.
The project, developed by Form Five and Six students, blends technology and civic responsibility — showing how education can drive innovation for public good.
Unveiled during the school’s 16th Form Four graduation ceremony on October 11, 2025, the project drew attention from educators and regional officials. Eliabu Japhet, a Form Six student who led the initiative, said the team was motivated by a desire to use their computer science knowledge to support national development.
“We wanted to apply what we’ve learned in class to solve real-world challenges,” Japhet explained. “Since this is an election year, we decided to design a model of a digital voting platform that could make the election process more efficient and transparent.”
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The system functions much like an online election portal. It presents a list of presidential candidates, allows users to cast votes securely, and automatically generates a digital receipt as confirmation. Each vote is encrypted and stored safely, protecting voter privacy and ensuring that results cannot be altered.
According to Japhet, the idea was inspired by studying how electoral commissions operate globally and how technology is transforming governance. “We followed the same principles of fairness and transparency that guide institutions like the National Electoral Commission,” he said.
The school’s headteacher praised the students’ innovation, noting that it proves how education — particularly in technology and science — can go beyond theory to provide practical solutions to national challenges. Local leaders also urged the group to refine their design and seek partnerships with universities or tech hubs for further development.
If scaled up, the system could revolutionize how elections are managed in the digital era. It would reduce paper use, improve voter accessibility, and help speed up results — while upholding the integrity of the democratic process. Projects like this highlight the potential of Africa’s youth to harness technology for civic progress and innovation.
