The Confédération Syndicale des Travailleurs du Bénin (CSTB) has expressed its opposition to electronic voting in the upcoming 2027 professional elections in Benin. In a press conference held on September 25, 2026, at the Bourse du Travail in Cotonou, the CSTB cited concerns over the reliability of the electronic voting system and called for a return to manual voting using paper ballots. This stance is not new, as the CSTB had similar concerns during the 2021 professional elections.
According to the CSTB's Secretary General, Nagnani KASSA MAMPO, the electronic voting system was imposed in 2021 without consultation with trade union organizations. The CSTB highlighted several issues with the system, including an incomplete electoral list, lack of physical polling stations, and the centralization of the process around a computer platform. These concerns were echoed in various sectoral elections and staff representative elections.
The CSTB pointed out several irregularities in the 2021 elections, including cases where voters received notifications that they had already voted, and instances of proxy voting in the secondary education sector. Additionally, irregularities were reported at the INRAB, where the number of voters exceeded the number of registered voters. These experiences have led the CSTB to question the principle of electronic voting.
The CSTB argues that the electronic voting system is difficult to control, as voters only see the voting interface, while the votes are recorded in a database accessible to the system administrator. This raises concerns about transparency and trust in the results. In contrast, the CSTB believes that paper ballots allow for greater control, with physical polling stations, verifiable electoral lists, and public counting.
The CSTB is calling on the government to return to manual voting for the 2027 professional elections. They also demand the establishment of departmental and local electoral committees, a complete and timely-published electoral list, and public counting in each polling station with signed and delivered minutes to candidate unions.
The CSTB's opposition to electronic voting is driven by a desire to preserve the credibility of the electoral process and social peace. They are urging workers from both the public and private sectors, as well as other trade union confederations and centers, to mobilize for "free and transparent" elections based on secret ballots.
The CSTB's stance on electronic voting highlights the ongoing debate about the best approach to ensure the integrity and transparency of electoral processes in Benin. As the 2027 professional elections approach, it remains to be seen whether the government's plans for electronic voting will be implemented or if the CSTB's demands for manual voting will be met.
Key points
- The CSTB opposes electronic voting in Benin's 2027 professional elections due to concerns over reliability and transparency.
- The CSTB is calling for a return to manual voting using paper ballots and greater control over the electoral process.
- The CSTB's opposition to electronic voting is driven by a desire to preserve the credibility of the electoral process and social peace.
