Let’s take December 7 elections more seriously

The Electoral Commission (EC) has set Sunday, December 4 for the continuation of the special voting exercise across the country.

The decision, which was arrived at after the EC and political party representatives had held an emergency Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting last Thursday, is due to the inability of scores of people to do the special voting, although they were expected to do so.

While we are happy that security personnel, journalists and other officials who missed the first chance on December 1 will be afforded another opportunity to cast their ballots before the December 7 elections, we are nonetheless worried about the seeming state of unpreparedness of the EC to conduct this year’s elections within the specified time frame.

In the last two elections held in the country, we experienced some delays that resulted in the need for the extension of the time for the elections in certain areas.

The Daily Graphic believes that having conducted six consecutive elections, the EC should now be in a position to conduct almost flawless elections devoid of suspicion and accusations.

Elections are very emotive exercises and we need to attach all the seriousness they deserve to them, else we will be overawed by the outcome.

Some countries have been plunged into chaos after elections because of flaws in the processes, resulting in suspicion, misunderstanding and then violence.

We know that because the EC is a human institution, there are bound to be some challenges in the conduct of elections, but their frequent occurrence is what we find very worrying.

For instance, the need to extend the period of the special voting should not have arisen if the EC had put in place arrangements for the exercise much earlier than it did.

As it turned out, preparations were done when the date scheduled for the exercise was very close and things had to be done in a rush — there are always bound to be mistakes when things are done hurriedly.

We commend the EC for agreeing that there were challenges with the early voting exercise conducted last Thursday across the country and for assuring us that steps will be taken to correct them.

But our consternation is that Election Day is only four days away, which means that any problem or bottleneck which remains the D-day will rear its head on December 7.

That is why the Daily Graphic urges the EC to, between now and Monday, ensure that all the challenges have been resolved and officials duly assigned to all the centres.

We especially ask for special attention to be attached to the dispatch of logistics to difficult-to-reach places, popularly referred to as ‘overseas’, else they will either be cut off on voting day or require extension before they can vote.

Let us attach more seriousness to the elections and all issues relating to the exercise, so that we experience not only smooth but free, fair and peaceful elections.