Election 2024; EC Opens Application For Special Voting

Electoral Commission Calls For Applications for Special Voting

The Electoral Commission (EC) has officially opened applications for special voting for qualified institutions and individuals, which has been fixed for Monday, December 2, 2024.

It will close the registration for qualified individuals who have a legitimate reason to be granted special voting rights on July 1.

The special voting will not be automatically given, and eligible individuals must actively apply for it.

The special voting exercise will take place in all 276 constituencies across the country, with each voter expected to cast their vote in their constituency as contained in the details of an individual’s Voter ID card.

Under the Constitutional Instrument (CI) 127, qualified individuals can apply to the returning officer of their constituency to be granted special voting rights if they have a just cause that prevents them from being present at the polling station where they are registered on election day.

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The category of voters eligible for special voting includes staff of the military, police,Immigration Service,Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Prisons Service, Fire Service, polling officers, and permanent staff of the EC and the media.

To apply for special voting, individuals must be registered voters in the specific constituency where they wish to cast their votes.

Those granted special voting rights will have their names removed from the regular voting list for the December 7 polls. The EC has emphasized that this measure is aimed at preventing double-voting.

The EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa, emphasized that the commission has put in place stringent measures to prevent any attempts to undermine the special voting process. She revealed that district police headquarters will serve as special voting centers in each constituency, with an additional center designated where necessary to accommodate a large number of voters.

To facilitate a seamless application and voting process, applicants are required to apply directly to the returning officer of their constituency and provide a letter from their institution confirming their employment.

Group applications from institutions are also accepted, with a list containing the names of each applicant, voter ID number, and polling station code as it appears on their voter ID card.

The EC Chairperson stressed that all applicants must apply in person to the returning officer and advised those who have misplaced their voter ID cards to replace them during the exercise. The commission is keen to ensure that only eligible voters participate in the special voting process to maintain the integrity of the electoral process.

With this announcement, eligible individuals and institutions are urged to take advantage of this opportunity to apply for special voting before the deadline on July 1. The EC is committed to ensuring a free and fair election process, and this measure is designed to ensure that all qualified voters have an equal opportunity to exercise their franchise.

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