The Electoral Commission (EC) has set December 2, 2024 as the day for a special voting session for eligible voters, who will be assigned to specific duties on Election Day on December 7.
Chairperson of the EC, Jean Mensa, said the special voting would take place in all 276 constituencies, including the newly created Guan Constituency in the Oti Region, and that district police offices would primarily serve as special voting centres.
Mrs. Mensa told a meeting of security personnel and media editors in Accra yesterday that if the number of voters surpasses the Commission’s threshold of 750, additional centres would be created.
Special voting is a provision that allows a certain group of registered voters, such as journalists, security officers, staff of the Commission and polling agents of political parties, to vote before the general voting day.
To be eligible for special voting, the EC Chairperson specified that an individual or organisation must submit applications between June 17 and July 1, 2024, demonstrating that they have a special duty to perform on Election Day.
She emphasised the importance of adhering to the application process to ensure eligibility, adding, “All applicants for special voting should apply directly to the returning officer of their constituency where they are registered.”
“Institutions must submit a list of their officers, including names, voter IDs, and polling station codes, to facilitate the verification process,” she noted.
Applicants, she added, must apply in person, and those who have lost their voter ID cards should replace them during the replacement exercise to provide accurate information on their applications.
“It is important to emphasise that any person registering out of the mentioned groups must provide a letter from their institution to prevent unauthorised applications,” Mrs. Mensa said.
She added that one of the eligibility criteria is to be a registered voter in the constituency where the applicant intends to vote.
If a voter has relocated to a different constituency, they must transfer their vote during the transfer period to qualify for special voting in their new constituency.
“If an applicant fails to transfer their vote and applies for special voting, they will not be eligible to vote in their new constituency,” she clarified.
The EC boss stressed that special voting is not automatic, and eligible persons must apply to be placed on the special voters’ register.
“To be on the special voters’ register, you must apply in person to the returning officer of your agency. Once the application is accepted, your name will be temporarily removed from the original polling station register to prevent double voting,” she added.
By Ernest Kofi Adu