The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana is holding special voting in the Eastern and Western regions today, Thursday, December 5, 2024, after the exercise was rescheduled due to ballot integrity concerns.
The voting, originally slated for Monday, December 2, was postponed after a defaced ballot paper marked for destruction was discovered outside the Checkpoint Printing House.
This raised questions about the security of the materials. Although no issues were reported with ballots for the Western Region, the Eastern Region’s ballots were printed by the same press. To ensure transparency, the EC recalled and reprinted ballots for both regions.
The reprinted materials were delivered on Wednesday, December 4, clearing the way for today’s voting.
Special voting allows election officials, security personnel, and media practitioners who will be on duty during the December 7 general elections to cast their ballots in advance.
- Polling Time: 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- Eligible Voters: Only those listed in the Special Voters Register.
- Verification: Biometric systems are being used to ensure accuracy and transparency.
Speaking on the matter, EC Chairperson Jean Mensa assured the public that all measures had been taken to uphold the integrity of the election process.
“We have addressed the challenges to ensure a transparent and credible exercise. These efforts reaffirm our commitment to free and fair elections,” she stated.
The EC had previously conducted special voting in 14 other regions on December 2 without incident.
Votes cast during the special voting exercise will be securely sealed and transported to the EC’s offices in the respective regions. The ballots will remain under strict security until they are counted during the general tally on December 7.
The EC has urged participants to adhere to voting guidelines and maintain peace throughout the process. The successful conduct of today’s rescheduled special voting is seen as crucial in bolstering confidence in the December 7 general elections.
Observers are hopeful that the decisive actions taken by the EC to address ballot concerns will reinforce trust in Ghana’s electoral system.