13,000 people failed to cast their ballot on Dec.1 – EC

The director of Electoral Services at the Electoral Commission (EC) has revealed that some 13,000 people failed to vote in the recent special voting exercise.

Dr. Serebour Quaicoe said these people did not cast their ballot due to a multiplicity of factors including going to the wrong polling stations.

Speaking on Joy News’ Newsfile on Saturday, he said they have, therefore, lost their franchise as they have been put on the absentees’ list.

“We have already lost 13,000 people. Some people went to certain polling stations they thought they can vote there while they are not registered voters in the constituency.”

“We have been engaging them for more than three months now and we have been hitting on these issues that once you have not applied for transfer then your name will be in the constituency where you registered. So don’t be surprised that on December 7, some of these complaints will come up,” he said.

His comments come after the special voting exercise which came off on Tuesday, December 1 at selected polling stations across the country.

In total, the EC expected some  109,577 voters from 12 institutions to partake in the exercise.

These early voters consist of personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces, National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), National Security, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana National Fire Service, and Information Services Department.

The others include the personnel of the National Ambulance Service, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Prisons Service, Ghana Journalists Association, Ghana Police Service, and National Media Commission.