National Election Security Taskforce Urges Officers to Participate in Special Voting

The National Election Security Task Force has urged security personnel to turn out in large numbers to participate in the special voting exercise.

 

The task force emphasized that the special voting exercise is ongoing nationwide today, 2nd December 2024, except in the Eastern and Western Regions, where it is scheduled for Thursday, 5th December 2024.

The Electoral Commission has assured that individuals scheduled to vote in the Eastern and Western Regions will have the opportunity to cast their ballots on Thursday, 5th December 2024.

 

Meanwhile, security agency personnel are urged to turn out in large numbers today, 2nd December 2024, to participate in the voting process, according to a statement.

Approximately 131,478 voters, representing 0.007% of the total registered electorate of 18,741,159, are expected to participate in the Special Voting exercise being conducted in 14 regions instead of the usual 16. The Eastern and Western Regions are excluded from today’s exercise.

 

Explaining the exclusion, Electoral Commission Chairperson Jean Mensa revealed during a press briefing on Sunday, December 1, 2024, that a single defaced ballot paper intended for the Presidential election in the Eastern Region was leaked from the printing house. Although the ballot was marked for destruction, it found its way out of the facility.

Following information from National Security, the Commission decided to reschedule the special voting for the Eastern and Western Regions to Thursday, December 5, 2024, to maintain the integrity of the process.

The Electoral Commission (EC) has disclosed that ballot papers for the Eastern and Western Regions were recalled and reprinted after a defaced Presidential ballot for the Eastern Region was leaked. Rocheck Limited, the printing house responsible, was supervised by the National Investigation Bureau (NIB), National Security, political party agents, and EC officials.

 

Given that Rocheck Limited printed ballots for both regions, the Commission, in consultation with political parties, opted to reprint ballots for both areas. Three separate printing houses were engaged for this task, with updates provided to political parties to uphold transparency.

 

The EC reiterated its dedication to transparency, stressing that informing stakeholders about the leaked ballot reinforces trust in the electoral process.

 

Special voting accommodates individuals performing election-related duties on the main polling day, such as personnel from the Ghana Armed Forces, NIB, National Security, Police Service, Immigration Service, Fire Service, Ambulance Service, Prisons Service, Customs Division, Information Services Department, and members of the Ghana Journalists Association and National Media Commission.

 

This early voting ensures their participation without hindering their professional responsibilities. However, the results of the special voting will only be announced after the general elections.