The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has extended the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise by two weeks and introduced an online self-service option for eligible first-time voters.

In a statement issued on July 3, 2026 and signed by National Commissioner & Chair of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the Commission said the decision followed a review of the exercise and feedback from its State Offices, political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.

The nationwide CVR commenced on August 18, 2025 and was initially scheduled to end on July 10, 2026, but  with the new extension, eligible Nigerians now have until Sunday, July 26, 2026 to register.

The statement read “The extension underscores the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that every eligible Nigerian has a fair and reasonable opportunity to be included in the Register of Voters ahead of future electoral activities,” .

Meanwhile, INEC has announced the rollout of a self-service registration portal for first-time voters as part of innovations to make registration easy for Nigerians.

The newly launched self-service will go live on Wednesday, July 8, 2026 via the Commission’s dedicated CVR portal: cvr.inecnigeria.org. A step-by-step guide will be provided on the portal.

The Commission said the online option will allow eligible citizens to initiate and complete their voter registration, including biometric capture, using their personal devices without visiting an INEC office.

INEC explained “The system incorporates robust identity verification, biometric validation, and backend integrity checks designed to preserve the credibility and accuracy of the National Register of Voters,” .

The electoral umpire urged all Nigerians who are yet to register to take advantage of both the extended deadline and the new technology-driven option.

Haruna stated “The Commission remains committed to a credible, inclusive and accessible voter registration process, and to advancing the use of technology to improve citizens’ experience in the electoral process,” .

The CVR is a continuous exercise that allows eligible Nigerians who have turned 18, those who need to transfer their registration, or voters seeking to replace lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, to update their details ahead of elections.