Ghana’s electoral commission plans to hold three elections in one day, here’s how

The election consisting of District Assembly Members, Unit Committee Members and a Referendum will be held on Sunday, December 17 this year.

The Director of Electoral Services at the EC, Dr Serebour Quaicoe said this while he spoke to the Ghana News Agency.

According to him, 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 Members and the Unit Committee Members form the critical core of the country’s decentralisation process by way of helping to exercise political and administrative authority in the district, provide guidance, give direction to, and supervise other administrative authorities in the district.

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

Each electorate, Dr Quaicoe said, on the day would be required to vote on the three themes separately.

He stated that the process would take the form of the regular general presidential and parliamentary elections, however, the difference with this ‘trio’ election, would be the addition of an 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 a second ballot to vote for the candidate of choice for the District Assembly and same for the referendum,” he said, adding that, “This means a voter will thumbprint on each separately and deposit each in its respective box.”

Dr Quaicoe stated that to help voters to understand the process, the EC was collaborating with the National Commission for Civic Education and the media to educate the public on the pending elections.

He said as part of activities, the EC would undertake stakeholder engagement with groups including; Persons with Disability, Chiefs and Opinion Leaders to educate them.

Having finished with the limited registration and voter exhibition, he said, the EC was preparing for the nomination exercise; expected to be followed by platform mounting for the qualified candidates, transfer of votes and the elections.

Although there was some 14-days delay due to a court case, the Director noted that the Commission would be ready to deliver a peaceful, fair and credible election.