Last updated: 14 October 2026. INEC’s online locator is the quickest way to confirm where you vote. Check it before the 2027 elections, because polling units were reorganised after 2021 and your old unit may have changed.
How to find your polling unit: the short version
- Fastest method: open INEC’s Find Polling Unit portal at cvr.inecnigeria.org/pu, choose your state, local government area (LGA) and registration area (ward), and read the unit description and directions.
- Cross-check: confirm you are on the register using the voter verification page at cvr.inecnigeria.org/vvs (VIN, or name and date of birth).
- Where you vote: only at the polling unit you are assigned to. You cannot vote at another unit.
- On election day: bring your PVC for BVAS verification. Accreditation and voting run from 8:30am to 2:30pm, and people in line at 2:30pm can still vote.
- Elections: presidential and National Assembly on 16 January 2027, governorship and State Assembly on 6 February 2027.
Knowing your polling unit sounds trivial until election morning, when a wrong guess can cost you hours or your vote. Nigeria has 176,846 polling units across 8,809 registration areas, and each registered voter is tied to exactly one of them. This guide shows you how to find yours, how the polling unit code works, what to do if your unit has changed, and what to bring on the day. It works alongside our PVC collection guide, our voter registration guide and the 2027 Nigeria Election Hub.
What is a polling unit?
A polling unit is the specific location where a group of registered voters cast their ballots. Polling units sit inside registration areas, which INEC also calls wards, which in turn sit inside local government areas and states. INEC increased the number of polling units from about 119,974 to 176,846 in 2021 by converting 56,872 voting points and voting point settlements into full polling units. Many voters were moved to new, closer units as a result, which is why checking again matters even if you have voted before.
How to find your polling unit online
INEC’s Find Polling Unit page opens an official locator at cvr.inecnigeria.org/pu. It uses three dropdown menus.
- Open the locator. Start from the Find Polling Unit page on inecnigeria.org and click the button that opens the portal. Type INEC’s address yourself rather than following links sent by strangers.
- Select your state of registration.
- Select your LGA (local government area).
- Select your registration area (ward). If you are unsure of your ward, look at your registration slip or PVC for the polling unit code, which starts with your state, LGA and ward numbers.
- Read the result. INEC says the portal shows the official location description, landmark indicators and directions to your assigned voting point. Screenshot it or write it down.
The locator shows the polling units in your ward. If your ward contains several, use your registration slip or PVC to match the number, and ask your ward INEC officials if the description is unclear.
Confirm you are on the register
Finding a polling unit location is not the same as confirming you are registered there. Use INEC’s voter verification page at cvr.inecnigeria.org/vvs, where you can search with your Voter’s Identification Number (VIN) or with your name and date of birth. You can also check the National Register of Voters display, which INEC is showing at ward centres from 9 to 15 October 2026, to see your name and polling unit and raise a claim if something is wrong.
A word on SMS services. Older guides list SMS numbers for finding a polling unit by texting your state, last name and the last six digits of your VIN. Those were published around the 2023 elections. We could not confirm that they still work in 2026, so rely on the INEC web portals and your local INEC office instead.
Understand your polling unit code
Your polling unit has a code that INEC describes in the format State/LGA/Ward/PU number, for example 01/02/03/004. The first three numbers identify your state, LGA and ward, and the last identifies the unit within the ward. The code is on your PVC, and it lets you and INEC officials match your record to the right unit quickly. Always check the code on your own card, since the example above is only an illustration of the format.
What if my polling unit has changed?
- Compare the location on the locator with where you voted before. New units were created after 2021 and some voters were redistributed.
- Ask your ward INEC office if the details do not match your slip or card.
- If you moved house, note that INEC’s registration and transfer window closed on 26 July 2026. See can you still transfer your PVC? for what you can do.
- Do not turn up at a different unit on election day. You will not be accredited there, because voting is only allowed at your designated unit.
What to do before election day
- Confirm your polling unit on INEC’s locator and write down its location and landmarks.
- Collect your PVC if you have not (see our collection guide). INEC says 2026 registrants’ cards are not yet available, so watch its official channels for dates.
- Visit the unit, or at least ask neighbours, to know the route and travel time.
- Plan to arrive early. Accreditation and voting run from 8:30am to 2:30pm.
- Bring your PVC. INEC verifies voters with the BVAS device on election day.
Common mistakes
- Assuming you will vote where you voted in 2023.
- Looking up a unit in your current town rather than the state, LGA and ward where you registered.
- Relying on old SMS numbers or unofficial apps.
- Leaving the check until the week of the election.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find my polling unit?
Use INEC’s Find Polling Unit portal (cvr.inecnigeria.org/pu), select your state, LGA and ward, and read the location details.
Can I vote at any polling unit?
No. You can vote only at the polling unit where you are registered.
What do I do if I do not know my ward?
Look at your registration slip or PVC for your polling unit code, or ask your LGA INEC office. You can also search the voter verification page with your VIN.
What time does voting start and end?
Accreditation and voting run from 8:30am to 2:30pm, and voters in line at 2:30pm can still vote.
How many polling units does Nigeria have?
INEC has put the figure at 176,846 polling units across 8,809 registration areas for the 2027 elections.
Do I need to change my polling unit if I moved?
INEC’s transfer window closed on 26 July 2026 and it refused an extension, so unless your transfer was already approved you must vote at your old unit. See our transfer guide.
Moved house? Read whether you can still transfer your PVC.
Bottom line
Finding your polling unit takes two minutes on INEC’s portal and can save you a wasted trip on election day. Do it now, note the details, and confirm your PVC status. For the full election calendar, see the 2027 election hub.
Sources: INEC, Find Polling Unit; INEC, Voter Verification Status; TheCable, INEC creates additional 56,872 polling units; CDD Fact Check, how to locate your polling unit; Political Economist, INEC briefing of 13 Oct 2026.
