Not more than 500 voters would be allowed at a polling station – EC

In the upcoming general elections, the Electoral Commission (EC) has declared its intention to expand the number of polling stations.

“Our experience in 2020 reveals that by 1:00 pm, 70 per cent of our polling stations were empty of voters as most voters had cast their votes. This made it possible because the threshold of most polling centres was reduced to 500 voters per voting centre”.

EC Chair Jean Mensa declared, “We will increase the number of our polling stations nationwide,” on Thursday, December 14, 2023, at an inter-party dialogue and stock-taking conference hosted by the National Peace Council in Accra.

“We think this will significantly lessen the lengthy lines that often accompany our elections and enable a hassle-free, easy, and seamless voting process,” she continued.

She added: “In 2020, it took voters not more than five minutes to cast their votes due to the introduction of this policy”.

Additionally, she suggested that on election day, polls close at 3 p.m. rather than 5 p.m. to allow for transparent vote tallying before dusk.

“In 2020, 70 per cent of our polling centres had a voter threshold of 500 and below”, Mrs Mensa said, adding: “This time, we intend to ensure that all our polling station centers have a threshold of 500 voters and below”.

“Based on our 2020 experience and also feedback from several observer groups we propose to close the polls at 3:00 pm” Mrs Mensa stated.

“This was coupled with the robust verification devices that were deployed to the polling stations. We are convinced that by closing the polls at 3:00 pm, we will be able to count and collate in broad daylight and this will promote the needed transparency and orderliness that we so desire,” she added.

Source: Ghanatodayonline.com