The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana will conduct special voting today, Thursday, December 5, 2024, in the Eastern and Western regions, ahead of the December 7 general elections.
This follows the rescheduling of the exercise, which was originally planned for Monday, December 2, 2024.
The delay was announced after a defaced ballot paper, marked for destruction, was discovered outside the Checkpoint Printing House, raising concerns about the integrity of the materials.
Although the Western Region’s ballots were not affected, the printing press responsible for the Eastern Region’s materials also handled those for the Western Region. As a precaution, the EC recalled and reprinted the ballots for both regions.
The reprinted materials were delivered to the two regions on Wednesday, December 4, ensuring readiness for today’s special voting. EC Chairperson Jean Mensa assured stakeholders that all necessary measures were taken to maintain the integrity and transparency of the voting process.
The special voting exercise allows designated groups, including election officials, security personnel, and media practitioners who will be on duty during the election, to cast their votes in advance.
The polls will be open from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and only voters listed in the Special Voters Register are eligible to participate. Biometric verification systems will be used to ensure accuracy and transparency.
The Electoral Commission has reiterated its commitment to holding a free, fair, and credible election.
Votes cast during the special voting exercise will be securely sealed and transported to the EC’s offices in the respective regions, where they will remain under strict security until the general counting on December 7.
The EC has urged all participants to adhere to voting guidelines and maintain peace throughout the exercise. The successful conduct of today’s rescheduled special voting is expected to bolster confidence in the upcoming elections.
