Special voting in the Western and Eastern Regions is taking place today, December 5, following a postponement from the original date of December 2.
The Electoral Commission (EC) rescheduled the exercise after a leakage of ballot papers was detected in the two regions, prompting swift measures to safeguard the credibility of the election process. The EC subsequently recalled and reprinted the affected ballot papers to ensure integrity. This decision was announced by EC Chairperson Jean Mensa during an emergency news conference on December 1.
The recall and reprinting were deemed essential to maintain public confidence in the voting process ahead of the 2024 General Election.
This year, special voting is being conducted at 328 centres nationwide for 131,478 voters on the special voting list. These include members of the security services, media personnel, and election officials who need to vote early to enable them to perform their duties on the main election day.
Speaking on December 4, Deputy EC Chairperson Dr. Bossman Asare affirmed the Commission’s readiness for today’s exercise in the Western and Eastern Regions. “The Electoral Commission is fully prepared for the special voting. All required materials have been dispatched to the two regions, ensuring a smooth and transparent process,” he stated.
Dr. Asare confirmed that there are 33 voting centres in the Eastern Region and 17 in the Western Region. He encouraged all registered special voters in these areas to turn out to cast their ballots.
He further noted that those who miss today’s voting will not have another opportunity to vote on Saturday, December 7, underscoring the importance of participating in the exercise.
