The Electoral Commission of Ghana has announced the cessation of using indelible ink on voters’ fingers during elections, citing the efficiency of the biometric verification system in preventing double voting.
Traditionally employed to visually identify voters who have cast their ballots, the EC now deems indelible ink as unnecessary with the advanced biometric technology.
Dr. Serebour Quaicoe, Director of Electoral Services at the Electoral Commission, clarified that the biometric system, coupled with strict voter register controls, eliminates the need for indelible ink.
He said biometric verification process ensures that each voter is verified only once, preventing any possibility of multiple voting.
Dr. Quaicoe emphasized, “Once you vote and you are verified, the machines say you have been verified, your barcode is also destroyed. The use of indelible ink is no more necessary.”
Additionally, the Electoral Commission has justified the decision to shift the closing time of voting from 5:00 pm to 3:00 pm during the upcoming 2024 general elections.
EC Chairperson Jean Mensa explained that this adjustment aims to enhance transparency and orderliness in the collation of votes.
Addressing participants at an inter-party dialogue and stock-taking conference organized by the National Peace Council, Mrs. Mensa highlighted the lessons learned from the 2020 elections, where 70 percent of polling centers witnessed minimal activity by 1:00 pm.
To address this, the EC proposes reducing the voter threshold to 500 voters per voting center and increasing the number of polling stations nationwide.
Mrs. Mensa expressed confidence that closing the polls at 3:00 pm would facilitate a smoother voting process, citing the success of a similar policy in 2020.
The EC believes the proposed adjustment will ensure a timely and transparent counting and collation process, aligning with its commitment to a seamless electoral experience.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
