EC rejects claims of bias in voter registration

The Electoral Commission (EC) has refuted allegations that it has been distributing faulty equipment selectively and sabotaging voter registration processes in certain regions of the country.

In a statement, the EC dismissed the claims as baseless and arising from either a lack of understanding of its procedures or deliberate attempts to tarnish its reputation.

“The Commission has no intention of favouring any particular regions, constituencies or zones in this Registration Exercise,” the statement clarified.

It condemned the spread of misinformation and reaffirmed its commitment to a fair and transparent process.

“The right to register as a voter is a fundamental political right that must be protected for all Ghanaians who are at least 18 years old and meet the requirements for registration,” the EC stated, addressing concerns about discrimination.

The commission emphasized its dedication to ensuring that all eligible Ghanaians can participate in the electoral process.

“We assure all Ghanaians that the Commission is committed to ensuring that all qualified persons get onto the Voters Register and vote in the December 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.”

“It is in our interest to do so and we take pride in the high percentage of the registered voters.”

The Limited Voter Registration Exercise was launched last Tuesday nationwide and initially encountered technical difficulties that have now been resolved, according to the EC.

In the first six days of the exercise, the Commission registered 251,149 new voters with females constituting 135,898 which is 54.11% and males, 115, 251, 45.89%.

First-time Voters (those between the ages of 18 and 21) constitute the majority of registered voters in all 16 regions, representing 88.02% (221,066) of the total number of registered voters so far.

The EC indicated that the Guarantor system used extensively in the 2023 and 2024 Voter Registration Exercise, is still the prevalent mode of identification in the ongoing exercise.

151,601 registrants representing 60.36%, used the system to register.

According to the Commission, the system has been exploited by political parties and individuals to facilitate the registration of unqualified persons, including minors and non-citizens and expressed concerns that this practice is contributing to confusion and disruptions at several registration centres across the country.

The limited voter registration exercise began on May 7th at 268 District Offices of the Electoral Commission, various selected electoral areas, and some public universities.

Within the first two days, the system faced several technical issues that impeded the process.

The EC expressed regret over the inconvenience caused but assured the public that the problems have been addressed effectively.

The Commission temporarily shifted to offline registration following the technical issues encountered during the early stages of the exercise to ensure that all applicants waiting in queues could register without delay, aiming to accommodate all eligible voters efficiently.

Despite the benefits of managing queues, the Electoral Commission has expressed a preference for the online registration system.

The online setup, the EC said, is crucial as it prevents duplicate registrations by automatically checking if an individual has already been registered.

“As a Commission, we did what we had to do by putting measures in place to ensure a smooth registration experience for our compatriots,” the statement said.

It reassured all political parties and the general populace that anyone eligible to vote could now register without further difficulties.

Source: Mypublisher24