Long lines formed the past days outside IFE centers due to a Jan. 15 deadline to renew voter credentials for those whose cards ended in 2003. Unless they did so, they will not be able to vote in the 2012 election.
There is some cause to worry here: Around 5 million people registered did not do so, a very big chunk of the electorate. IFE, which refused to extend the deadline (citing, correctly, previously agreed law), insisted that "60 percent" of these have left the country, and a further "25 percent" are deceased. Even if true, that would still leave 600,000 or so unable to vote in 2012.
