Yesterday, December 2, 2024, marked a significant milestone in Ghana’s electoral process as special voting took place for personnel who will be on duty during the December 7 general elections.
The special voting exercise, organized by the Electoral Commission (EC), was designed to enable registered voters who will be unable to present themselves at their polling stations on election day to cast their votes ahead of time.
According to the EC, eligible voters included security officials, accredited media personnel, and staff of the Electoral Commission. These individuals, who will be playing critical roles in ensuring the smooth conduct of the elections, were able to exercise their franchise without having to worry about being absent from their posts on election day.
The exercise was conducted in the same manner as voting on polling day, with voters being issued with Presidential Ballot papers, which they must check for any marks or the validating stamp. They then proceeded to the Voting Booth to thumbprint their choice of candidate and cast their vote in the Presidential Ballot Box.
Reports from across the country indicate that the special voting exercise went smoothly, with a little over 114,000 voters, excluding 17,000 from the Western and Eastern regions, casting their ballots across the 276 constituencies nationwide.
The exercise was characterized by heavy security presence, particularly at the Osu Police Station in the Klottey Korle Constituency. Political party representatives were also present and cooperative throughout the exercise.
The ballots cast during the special voting exercise will be securely stored at the various police stations and added to the general election results on December 7.
With the special voting exercise now complete, attention turns to the main event on December 7, when millions of Ghanaians will head to the polls to elect their next leaders.
