If your name is missing, you could still vote – EC

Despite the detection of missing names on the newly compiled voter’s register, the Electoral Commission (EC) has assured that no qualified voter will be disenfranchised in the 2020 polls.

In an interview with theghanareport.com Thursday, the acting Director of Public Affairs of EC, Mrs Sylvia Annoh, explained the EC could still refer to the primary data collected during the registration exercise.

That data includes the biometric details of the voter and can therefore be used to identify a qualified voter who has a valid card, even if the person’s name is not on the register, she said.

“Once legitimately, you have registered and you have your name on the voter list, you will not be disenfranchised,” she told the website after an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting to address concerns by political parties.

The EC is facing fresh criticisms after its voter register exhibition exercise showed some names are missing. Some showed duplicate voter ID numbers, one picture appearing for multiple persons and a gender switch of the voter.

While the EC has said these ‘anomalies’ are not significant, the main opposition NDC has claimed it is rampant.

The EC said it has explained to political parties that the necessary measures have been taken and “all issues with the exhibition exercise are being resolved”.

Applicants who observe any anomalies are, however, required to notify the EC officials for corrections to be effected.

She explained that it does not apply to persons flagged to have multiple registrations or flouted other registration rules.

These groups of people numbering over 7000 have the chance to appeal for redress.

A voter exhibition exercise started on Friday, September 18. The EC has extended the September 25  deadline for the exercise to Sunday, September 27.

The EC has indicated it expects to ratify all the issues.

Prior to the meeting, the NDC had accused the EC of deleting names of its members and conducting fresh registrations and printing of cards.

But the election management body insists that it “has not deleted names of voters from the register”.

The EC has explained that the law “provides for ‘inclusion’ to allow persons who registered but whose names are not on the register, to file to be included in the register”.

Flagbearer of the NDC, former President John Dramani Mahama had labelled the EC as incompetent due to what he said was huge discrepancies.

But Mrs Annoh indicated it is only an opinion with the laws of the country outlining guidelines of “exhibition [which] affords registered voters to verify details and have them corrected”.