Gambians cast votes with marbles instead of ballots

By Briana Duggan, CNN

Updated 1847 GMT (0247 HKT) December 1, 2016

The unique voting system was introduced in the early 1960's to address the high level of illiteracy in the country.
Photos: Gambia's marble voting system
The unique voting system was introduced in the early 1960's to address the high level of illiteracy in the country.
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Each party competing in the election has a drum painted with its own identifying colors and their party symbol.
Photos: Gambia's marble voting system
Each party competing in the election has a drum painted with its own identifying colors and their party symbol.
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Voters are issued a marble each, then proceed to the polling booth to vote.
Photos: Gambia's marble voting system
Voters are issued a marble each, then proceed to the polling booth to vote.
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This system of voting was introduced to assure transparency.
Photos: Gambia's marble voting system
This system of voting was introduced to assure transparency.
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When a marble is dropped into the drum, it hits a bell which indicates a vote has just been cast. To prevent other sounds the drum has saw dust or sand inside.
Photos: Gambia's marble voting system
When a marble is dropped into the drum, it hits a bell which indicates a vote has just been cast. To prevent other sounds the drum has saw dust or sand inside.
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The system allows counting officials quickly ascertain the number of votes cast in each drum.
Photos: Gambia's marble voting system
The system allows counting officials quickly ascertain the number of votes cast in each drum.
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More than 880,000 voters are expected to cast their ballots when this tiny west African nation goes to the polls.
Photos: Gambia's marble voting system
More than 880,000 voters are expected to cast their ballots when this tiny west African nation goes to the polls.
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Counting is snappy as the marbles are poured from the ballot drum into a wooden tray with 200 or 500 holes.
Photos: Gambia's marble voting system
Counting is snappy as the marbles are poured from the ballot drum into a wooden tray with 200 or 500 holes.
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Story highlights

  • Gambians cast their vote using a unique marble and drum system
  • Marble system praised for being "more transparent, credible, and fair
  • However Internet and phone lines were blocked on eve of election

(CNN)Gambians headed to the polls Thursday to cast their vote for the next president, not with a ballot but with a unique marbles and drums system.

The country's electoral body praised the saying it was "more transparent, credible, and fair," allowing the country's illiterate citizens to vote.
    "Our electoral commission is second to none," said Gambia's Independent Electoral Commission Chairman Alieu Momarr Njai in a press conference days before the election. "No one can rig it," he added.
      The process was developed 60 years ago and each registered voter is given a single marble, which they place in drums that serve as a ballot box, each drum has a photo corresponding to a presidential candidate.
      After the voting has ended, the drums are emptied and marbles are placed into special trays (with either 200 or 500 holes), this system enables counting officials to quickly see the number of votes cast in each drum.
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      The incumbent President Yahya Jammeh has been in power for 22 years and is vying for his fifth term in office but he faces his largest opponent yet in opposition candidate Adama Barrow.
      Describing the unique voting system Fatou Jagne, of media freedom organization Article 19's, said: "It's quite simple and very basic and it costs less than a new system...it is quite reliable."

      Election worries

      The run-up to elections, however, have faced severe international criticism, with the government accused of voter intimidation and opposition suppression.
      On the eve of the election internet and phone lines were blocked and remained so as polls opened on Thursday.
      Throughout election day, heavy paramilitary presence was reported around polling stations.
      In October, Human Rights Watch condemned the arrested of more than 90 opposition protesters, including the leader of Gambia's largest opposition party, the United Democratic Party (UDP).
      In April, the UDP's national organizing secretary was beaten to death while in custody of security services, according to a Human Rights Watch report.
      Today at least 43 people remain in custody, according to Article 19.
      President Yahya Jammeh seized power in a military coup in 1994 and has been in power since in what international observers often call a repressive regime.
        He has attracted heavy criticism in the past for claiming that he had created a herbal remedy for AIDS. He also once threatened to behead gay people.
        The small West African nation is the fourth largest source of migrants arriving in Italy, despite having a population of less than two million people.