The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has developed a mobile phone-based system of voting to check the high incidents of rejected ballots during polls. The ‘Global System for Mobile Communication Balloting System’ is expected to an improvement on the current paper ballot system and also present a more efficient system to prevent … Read more
The flag bearer of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Dr Edward Mahama, has said he failed to record a single vote as presidential candidate at the polling station where his pastor voted and suspects his pastor’s vote may have been added to the spoilt ballots. He said he was sure that a significant number of … Read more
The head Communications at the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana Mr. Kofi Dzakpasu, has revealed that spoilt ballots can be changed as many times as possible on election day provided the voter indicates that he/she has made an error whilst casting the ballot. He states that no law bars voters from changing ballot papers to … Read more
The Electoral Commission (EC) says it is confident that next week Wednesday’s general elections will be one of the best-organized processes in the history of the country. Briefing Election Observers in Accra Friday,the EC boss Charlotte Osei said the challenges which faced Thursday’s Special Voting exercise for some selected professionals across the country have driven … Read more
Elections are critical matter for every democracy. When it is done well, peace prevails and the contrary happens. The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has been mandated with the role of organizing national elections. It is of no doubt that EC is doing all it can to ensure free and fair elections. Apart from the … Read more
In the 2012 general elections about 251,720 votes were rejected by the Electoral Commission which amounted to 2.3 percent of the total votes cast. Figures from the commission states that as many as 205,438 ballots were also rejected in the 2008 elections. The figure was more than the votes gained by some of the presidential candidates. … Read more
President John Mahama has brought his campaign tour of the Western Region to an end by schooling his party supporters on how to vote. The president said it is crucial for the people to be taken through the voting process so their ballots will not be spoilt. The number of spoilt ballots in the 2012 … Read more
The founder of Danquah Institute, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko has apologized for a ‘false’ alarm he raised in Facebook post indicating some thumb printed ballots have been found in the Volta Region. Mr Otchere-Darko said in a Facebook post on Saturday said, seals to some ballot bags in the Ketu South Constituency of the Volta Region … Read more
Visually-impaired voters will be able to vote for their preferred candidates in next month’s elections without interference by aides in next month’s elections. It follows the introduction of tactile jackets to facilitate the voting process for visually impaired. Voters with visual impairment say they have over the years been unable to choose for themselves the … Read more
The Electoral Commission (EC) says the December Polls would close at all polling stations at 1700 hours on Election Day. According to the EC’s 2016 Presidential and Parliamentary Manual tagged: “A Guide to Voters,” made available to the Ghana News Agency, in Accra, says at the close of polls, all persons in the queue waiting … Read more
The Electoral Commission (EC) has set the parameters for the determination of the validity of a ballot paper. ‘If a voter accidentally damages his or her ballot paper, for by tearing, dirtying it or if the ballot paper is severely torn when being removed from the ballot booklet, it must be cancelled and replaced. ‘The … Read more
A Ghanaian professor based in the United States has launched a campaign to reduce the number of rejected ballots in Ghana’s election beginning with the 2016 edition. Dubbed the “rejected ballot challenge” Prof Stephen Kwaku Asare is hoping that through a comprehensive education programe the 2016 election will record less than one per cent of … Read more
The Electoral commission (EC) has tasked Presiding Officers (PO) to take custody of the Biometric Verification Device (BVD), ballot boxes, ballot papers and all other materials required for the conduct of the December 7 polls. The PO is also mandated to supervise the work of Polling Assistants and promptly resolve any issues they may encounter … Read more
The Table below provides the percentage of rejected ballots from 1992 to 2012. It also indicates the target rejection rate for 2016. 1992 3.6% 1996 1.5% 2000 (R1) (R2) 1.8%; 1.58% 2004 2.2% 2008 (R1) (R2) 2.4%; 1.02% 2012 2.3% 2016 —— {target is less than 1%} A ballot is rejected if it is cast … Read more
The Electoral Commission (EC) says it is taking steps to minimize the incidence of rejected ballots in next month’s elections. Head of Communications at the Commission, Mr. Eric Kofi Dzakpasu says the elections governing body is determined to ensure that candidates are credited with votes they deserve. Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, he … Read more
Reducing spoiled ballots is a primary focus of development for political parties in securing victory for the upcoming elections. It is believed to have a long-lasting effect on the fifty plus one policy of electing a president of the republic. There are many factors that have been underestimated over a long period and COYLIB aims … Read more
The idea to enlarge the columns on the ballot paper by the Electoral Commission (EC) to reduce the number of spoilt ballot papers during elections has received a strong opposition by a researcher and concerned citizen. According to John Amoah, a researcher and a social commentator, the EC will continue to record high number of … Read more
The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has encouraged first time voters to actively participate in the December 7 General Election. They must not sell their votes and or be influenced by the material things handed to them by candidates in exercising their franchise but they should make a choice that would further Ghana. Speaking … Read more
The Electoral Commission is planning to roll out a mock voting exercise for first-time voters aimed at reducing the percentage of spoilt ballots in the upcoming elections. Election watchers and stakeholders have in the past bemoaned the high number of spoilt ballots during any major election. Some have called for intensive voter education to reduce … Read more
The Electoral Commission (EC) has said it is hoping to reduce spoilt ballots during the upcoming December 7 elections to below one per cent by simplifying the voting process. The high number of rejected ballots recorded during national elections has been a major concern to stakeholders over the years and have been attributed to the … Read more