Mandela Washington Fellow, Daberechi, Meets Lansing’s Chief Deputy Clerk, Brian Jackson – Advocates Global Collaboration for Electoral Integrity and Civic Engagement

In a bold and timely intervention that reaffirms the role of youth in strengthening democracy, Mandela Washington Fellow and Nigerian civic leader Daberechi Kingsley Ekejiuba met recently with Mr. Brian Jackson, the Chief Deputy City Clerk of Lansing, Michigan, to discuss electoral reforms, civic engagement, and cross-border solutions to improve elections in both emerging and mature democracies.

The meeting, which took place at Lansing City Hall, also had in attendance Coach Michael Hopson, Culture and Accountability Officer at the Human Relations and Community Services Department, City of Lansing. It was marked by a robust exchange of ideas rooted in shared democratic values and practical realities on both sides of the Atlantic.

Ekejiuba, who leads youth-driven electoral interventions through his VOTE Africa initiative and Progressive Abia Youths, used the opportunity to study the systems that ensure electoral integrity and voter participation in Michigan – and to compare them to the current challenges facing Nigeria and Africa’s electoral process. This is particularly important given that Michigan recorded an average 72% voter turnout, which is above the national average of 65% in recent elections, and elections in the state have been largely free and fair, with diverse communities mostly included in election logistical plans.

The independence of the electoral commission (Michigan State Secretary and Lansing City Clerk are elected) was clearly seen in the conversation, even though political polarization, youth disengagement, and marginalization remain pressing concerns.

Drawing from the conversation with Mr. Jackson and firsthand experiences in the U.S., Ekejiuba outlined key lessons Nigeria can adopt to build a freer, fairer, and more inclusive electoral process:

1. Make Voter Registration Fun, Easy, and Continuous for Youth:
In Michigan and across the U.S., automatic voter registration, online registration, and same-day registration have increased participation. In the 2022 midterm elections, for example, nearly 27% of youth aged 18–29 voted in the U.S., one of the highest youth turnouts in decades (CIRCLE, Tufts University). Cumbersome processes, last-minute deadline pressures, and lack of youth-friendly engagements remain key barriers that we have to deal with to improve the electoral system and outcomes in Nigeria and across Africa.

2. Strengthen Political Parties to Be Active at Polling Points:
In the U.S., political parties are ideological, vibrant, organized, and present at most (if not every) polling unit, often providing voter education and mobilization in a structured way. Political parties in Nigeria and across the continent must exist beyond statutory electoral gains to represent ideological positions, ensuring they have clear responsibilities—not just during rallies, but at polling units and in ongoing civic engagement.

3. Upgrade Technological Systems and Defend Against Hacks with Trials Implemented Before the Main Elections:
During the 2020 U.S. election, Michigan employed robust cybersecurity defenses, real-time incident reporting, and multi-factor authentication for election administrators. These efforts helped prevent tampering and secured over 5 million votes cast in the state. With technical glitches and technological gaps witnessed in many elections across Africa, Ekejiuba recommends intentional investment in digital infrastructure, building strategic partnerships with CSOs, and international exchange to build resilience.

4. Use a Single Ballot for All Elections — and Conduct Elections in One Day:
U.S. voters receive one ballot paper that includes all positions—from president to local judges. Elections are often held on the same day, minimizing logistical costs and boosting turnout.
Multiple elections are capital-intensive and mostly confusing for voters. Adopting a unified ballot approach could streamline elections and reduce manipulation of elections in Nigeria and across Africa.

5. Allow Voting before Election Day to Increase Participation:
Early voting and absentee voting have become central to American elections. In Michigan’s 2022 midterm elections, more than 1.8 million voters (about 45%) cast ballots early—in person or by mail. While questions around logistical readiness and lack of an enabling environment may arise, instituting early voting windows, especially for youth, people with disabilities, and rural dwellers, can significantly increase access and reduce Election Day chaos. These conversations should start in earnest and an enabling environment created to accommodate early voting.

6. Use Paper Ballots to Validate Electronic Votes:
While the call for electronic voting is germane, using physical audit trails (paper ballots) alongside digital systems will preserve credibility, especially in close contests.

7. Restrict Courts to Interpretation—Not Election Results:
In the U.S., courts do not declare winners. They adjudicate disputes and order remedies but leave final announcements to independent election authorities. To avoid judicial overreach and political bias, courts should be restricted to adjudication. In Ekejiuba’s words, “Let the judiciary interpret electoral laws—not determine who wins elections.”

8. Count Ballots Early Using Electronic Scanners:
U.S. jurisdictions like Michigan use high-speed optical scanners to count millions of ballots on Election Day, with results often announced within hours. The manual collation of results in Nigeria and other African countries is time-consuming and vulnerable to interference. Deploying automated scanning technology, with open verification protocols, would ensure transparency and speed.

9. Elect High-Ranking Election Officials to Increase Accountability:
In the U.S., key electoral officials—including Secretaries of State and county clerks—are elected by the public, ensuring direct accountability. Ekejiuba advocates for a new model where top electoral managers are elected and publicly accountable to the people they serve.

A Call for Global Civic Exchange and Electoral Solidarity
While acknowledging geographical and economic differences, and demographic gaps that may affect the pace of proposed reforms, Ekejiuba emphasized the importance of intentional global collaboration, particularly between African democracies and mature electoral systems like the U.S.
“The integrity of democracy anywhere strengthens democracy everywhere,” he said. “As a Mandela Washington Fellow, I’m committed to building bridges across nations to make elections work for the people—not the powerful.”
Ekejiuba is currently a participant in the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, a flagship program of the U.S. government funded by the U.S. Department of State and implemented by IREX. The fellowship empowers outstanding young African leaders through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking.
With Nigeria preparing for off-cycle elections and a critical 2027 general election, these insights from Lansing—combined with the passion of leaders like Ekejiuba—could help ignite meaningful reforms, restore public trust, and inspire the next generation of civic actors in Africa and the world to stay the course.