The Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu
THE Electoral Commission (EC) has scheduled October 14, 2020 to November 22, 2020 for the printing and distribution of the final voters’ register ahead of this year’s general election on December 7.
The Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who is also the Chairman of the Special Budget Committee, announced this in Parliament yesterday during a presentation of the committee’s report on the budgetary performance of the EC and the roadmap for the general election.
He said the commission told the committee that it was yet to determine a date for the transfer of votes.
“The Commission informed the Committee that they intended to present a new C.I. to amend the present provision of the law which requires persons intending to transfer their votes to have lived in the new community for a minimum of one year in the area they intend to transfer their votes (sic),” he read the report.
According to him, the commission explained that this was necessary in the particular case of students, most of whom are currently at home and accordingly may register in their various residential locations, but who may need to transfer their votes to schools to enable them to vote.
On the issue of proxy, the Majority Leader reported that the EC stated the proxy voting would also be considered alongside the transfer though it may not require a change in legislation.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said the committee was generally satisfied with the level of preparedness of the EC for the conduct of the voters’ registration exercise and the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections.
He indicated the Special Budget Committee, however, noted that the EC was operating with “a tight schedule and urged the commission to strictly adhere to its roadmap to ensure a successful voter registration exercise.”
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House