Electronic voting in Morocco has taken a new step in academic research. Moroccan researchers have tested in Nador a prototype that combines facial recognition, blockchain and offline operation. The trial brought together 300 participants and recorded 287 ballots. For now, the system remains a university prototype. Moroccan authorities have not announced any plan to use it in official elections.
Electronic voting in Morocco: field trial in Nador
The prototype is called AdaptVote. It was developed by researchers from Mohammed First University in Oujda and Abdelmalek Essaâdi University in Tetouan.
The study was published on 4 September 2026 in the Journal of Cybersecurity and Privacy. It presents AdaptVote as a solution designed for areas where internet access remains unstable.
The field experiment took place in December 2024 on the campus of Mohammed First University in Nador.
Two polling stations operated for twelve hours. In total, 300 participants took part in the test.
A system able to work without a permanent connection
AdaptVote is based on a simple principle: voting does not depend on a permanent internet connection.
First, the system identifies the voter using facial recognition. It then registers the ballot locally.
When the connection is restored, the station synchronises the data with the central system.
During the Nador experiment, the researchers deliberately restricted network access. The connection was available for only 35% of the test period. Despite this constraint, the system achieved an availability rate of 99.2%.
Facial recognition and blockchain at the heart of the prototype
Facial recognition is one of the core components of AdaptVote.
The researchers also integrated a blockchain to secure the recording of ballots. The system uses cryptographic mechanisms designed to preserve the integrity of votes and prevent double voting.
The study also notes that the system separates the voter’s identity from their electoral choice.
This architecture aims to meet two key requirements of digital voting: verifying voter identity and protecting ballot secrecy.
287 votes recorded during the test
The Nador trial led to the recording of 287 votes.
According to the researchers, the system synchronised the ballots without any data conflicts. The test also measured the time needed to cast a vote.
Participants completed the digital vote in an average of 2.1 minutes, compared with 4.5 minutes using the paper ballot used for comparison. The researchers therefore estimate the time saving at 53.3%.
The system also operated with a maximum stated power consumption of 4.2 watts. This feature specifically targets areas where electricity supply is a constraint.
A prototype that still needs to prove itself
Despite these results, electronic voting in Morocco is not yet a reality for national elections.
AdaptVote remains a research project. The Nador test was not an official trial organised by the Moroccan election authorities.
The researchers themselves point to several limitations. Facial recognition can, for example, temporarily reject legitimate voters.
The study reports a success rate of 95.7% on the first attempt during the Nador deployment. The authors are considering strengthening the system with other identification methods, such as fingerprint recognition.
The real test would be a nationwide election
Moving from a 300-person trial to a nationwide election would mean a major change of scale.
Any electronic voting system would have to meet strict requirements for data protection, cyber security and independent oversight.
The reliability of biometrics is also a crucial issue. Identification errors could prevent some voters from casting their ballot.
The transparency of the system would also have to be guaranteed. Authorities would need to be able to audit operations and verify results without compromising ballot secrecy.
Morocco explores new digital paths
The AdaptVote experiment nonetheless shows that Moroccan researchers are already working on solutions tailored to local constraints.
The project specifically targets areas where internet access is irregular. It also seeks to reduce the energy needs of digital polling stations.
For now, it is therefore too early to speak of a nationwide rollout of electronic voting in Morocco.
But the Nador experiment is an interesting first demonstration. It shows that a prototype combining biometrics, blockchain and offline operation can function under limited connectivity conditions.
The next step will be to determine whether this type of technology can meet the much higher requirements of a real election.
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