Steps On How To Vote On Election Day In Ghana
Ghana’s general election is held on December 7 after every leap year (four years) and this provides Ghanaians with the opportunity to vote in a new president and parliamentarians.
Ghana’s election is solely moderated by Electoral Commission (EC) which has been constitutionally clothed and given the mandate to moderate, supervise and conduct elections in the country.
There are about 23 political parties in Ghana. However, since 1992, which is the start of the 4th Republic, the electioneering process in Ghana has been dominated by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party( NPP) and this year is not going to be an exception.
Ghana is currently divided into 275 constituencies and every constituency must have a representative in the next parliament. The election is primarily conducted at the polling stations in each constituency where the result is collated and the winner declared.
Steps On How To Vote On Election Day In Ghana
Before You Go To The Polling Centre
- Before you think of casting your vote in 2020, you should already be a registered voter who has been issued with his or her voter’s card.
- You must also know your constituency and the polling station where you will be casting your vote on December 7 2020.
- You must know voting on December 7 will start from 7 am to 5 pm and you must not go to the voting centre in any party’s attire or paraphernalia.
- You must have your voter’s card intact and also put on your mask since you would not be allowed to get access to the election centre without it.
Voting Steps:
- On election day, go to the Polling Station with your Voter ID card and join the queue if any. Please don’t jump the queue
- A polling assistant will check your particulars in the name reference list
- A verification officer will verify your identity as a registered voter with the verification machine.
- You will be issued with a Presidential Ballot paper. Please check to see if it has no marks on it. Also, ensure it has the validating stamp.
- Make your way to the Voting Booth and thumbprint (correctly) your choice of candidate.
- Cast your vote in the Presidential Ballot Box. Please make sure it’s the right box
- Proceed to the next Polling Assistant for a Parliamentary Ballot Paper
- Proceed to the Parliamentary Voting Booth and thumbprint (correctly) your choice of MP
- Cast your ballot in the Parliamentary Voting Box. Please make sure it is in the correct box or it will be rejected.
- Please leave the Polling Station after voting. You can return at 5 pm for the count.
Where To Vote
There are 28,992 polling stations in the country. These stations are set up to provide a venue for voters to go vote on election day. Voters are assigned to their designated polling stations permanently.
The adage “Where you register is where you vote” resulted from this principle of localized polling.
You can only vote at your residence precinct’s assigned polling station. If you go to a different polling place, your name will not appear on the roster and you might not be allowed to vote.
Who Qualifies To Vote
Every Citizen of Ghana of eighteen years of age or above and sound mind has the right to vote and is entitled to be registered as a voter for public elections and referenda.
Proxy Voting. What You Must Know
Anyone who is registered can apply for a proxy vote. You are required to provide a reason for absence when you apply for a proxy vote.
You can apply for a proxy vote on the following criteria:
- Illness or disability: You have an illness or physical condition that prevents you to go to the polling station on election day.
- Employment or military service. Your work prevents you to go to the polling station on election day.
- Education. Your attendance in an educational course prevents you from going to the polling station on election day.
- Absence due to Personal Reasons. You are unable to go to your local polling station on election day. For example, if you are away on holiday.
- Overseas: You are a Ghanaian citizen living overseas.
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