Politics

EC holds maiden ‘trio’ elections Dec 17

For the first time in the history of the country, the Electoral Commission (EC) will conduct three elections consisting of District Assembly and Unit Committee members and a Referendum on Sunday, December 17.

Across the polling stations nationwide, there will be three ballot boxes and screens and each voter will be given three different ballot papers separately.

The elections of the District Assembly and Unit Committee members form critical core of decentralisation processes by way of helping to exercise political, administrative authority in the district, provide guidance, give direction to, and supervise the other administrative authorities in the district.

The referendum, which is also seeking the amendments to Articles 243(1) and 55(3) for election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives and introduction of political party participation in local elections, have been presented to Parliament to be passed.

Dr Serebuor Quaicoe, the Director of Electoral Services at the EC, explained that each electorate on the day would be required to vote on the three themes separately, processes would take form of regular general presidential and parliamentary elections, however, difference with ‘trio’ election would be additional ballot box.

“An electorate will first receive one ballot paper to vote for a candidate of choice for the unit committee and go for second ballot to vote for candidate of choice for district assembly and same for referendum.

“This means a voter will thumbprint on each separately and deposit each in its respective box, to help voters to understand the processes, the EC is collaborating with the National Commission for Civic Education and the media to educate and sensitise the citizenry on pending elections.

“As part of activities, the EC will undertake stakeholder engagement with groups including persons with disability, chiefs and opinion leaders to educate and sensitise them, having finished with limited registration and voter exhibition, the commission is preparing for nomination exercise, followed by platform mounting for qualified candidates, transfer of votes and elections.

“Although 14-day delay due to court case, the commission is ready to deliver peaceful, fair, free, transparent and credible elections,  take cues from recent electoral activities, working tirelessly on improving monitoring mechanism, ensure temporal staff work efficiently and effectively to achieve objectives, no political party has been  given voter register as speculated, the register is a voluminous document, takes time to put together, by close of  week, we will finish compiling and hand over to political parties,” Dr Quaicoe assured. -GNA

Show More
Back to top button