The Electoral Commission opens applications for special voting

The Electoral Commission (EC) has commenced the application process for special voting, set to take place on Monday, December 2, 2024, across all 276 constituencies in Ghana.

Applications for special voting will be accepted until July 1, providing an opportunity for eligible individuals and institutions with justifiable reasons to participate in this electoral process.

The EC clarified that special voting is not automatic; interested parties must submit applications to their constituency’s Returning Officer.

This process allows registered voters who cannot be present at their polling stations on election day due to official duties to cast their votes beforehand.

Under Regulation 3(1) of Constitutional Instrument (CI) 127, eligible voters for special voting include personnel from the military, police, immigration service, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Prisons Service, Fire Service, polling officers, permanent staff of the EC, and accredited media personnel.

Applicants must be registered voters in the constituencies where they intend to vote. Successful applicants will be excluded from the regular voter list for the December 7 polls to prevent duplicate voting, as emphasized by the EC.

EC Chairperson Jean Mensa assured that stringent measures are in place to safeguard the integrity of the special voting process, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Special voting will be conducted at designated centres, primarily district police headquarters across constituencies.

Additional centres will be arranged within constituencies where the number of applicants exceeds 750, facilitating a smooth and efficient voting experience.

To apply, individuals must present a letter from their institution confirming their employment status.

Institutions have the option to submit lists of their eligible staff, including Voter ID numbers and Polling Station Codes, directly to the Returning Officer for verification.

Applicants are required to apply in person and should replace any misplaced Voter ID cards during the application period to ensure accurate details in their submissions.

For further details and applications, interested parties are advised to contact the Returning Officer of their respective constituencies directly.