Arrangements for assembly, unit committee polls adequate — CODEO
The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has observed that arrangements put in place by the Electoral Commission ( EC) for the setup and opening of district assembly and unit committee polls yesterday were adequate at most polling stations.
Advertisement
In a mid-day situational report issued by CODEO yesterday, it stated that 67 per cent of polling officers were present at the polling stations yesterday as required by the EC regulation, which requires them to be present at their assigned polling stations by 6:30a.m.
In a third (33 per cent) of polling stations, it also observed that the polling officials were not present at the time CODEO Stationary Observers arrived.
In 99 per cent of the polling stations, the electoral officials inspected CODEO Observers’ status as EC’s accredited election observers and permitted them to observe the polls.
The Coalition deployed 700 trained, accredited, non-partisan rapid response observers to observe the District Level Elections (DLE) which took place across the country Tuesday. Of this number, 500 were Stationary Observers assigned to 500 randomly selected polling stations in 86 districts located in the 10 regions of Ghana.
The remaining 200 conducted roaming observation within the districts. CODEO’s observers are ordinary Ghanaians who have volunteered their time to help ensure that registered voters can freely cast their ballot on Election Day.
These reports were based on reports CODEO received from its Stationary Observers, Regional Coordinators (RCs) and District Supervisors (DSs) deployed in 86 districts. The report focuses on the setting up, and opening of polling stations.
Arrival at Polling Stations
Some of the highlights of field reports received from the over 200 CODEO Stationary Observers from every selected district as of 12:00 p.m. yesterday (Election Day),were by 6:00a.m., all CODEO Stationary Observers had reported at their assigned polling station.
Other Trending Stories
Setting up of Polls
Overall, 87 per cent of the polling stations had also opened by 8:00a.m.
Of this, 37 per cent had opened by 7:15 a.m. and 50 per cent between 7:16 and 8:00 a.m. (see graph below for regional results).
Reports from 91 per cent of CODEO Stationary Observers also showed that the polling stations were set up so voters could mark their ballots in secret.
However, in nine per cent of polling stations, the set up was not according to the regulations.
According to CODEO Stationary Observers, almost all polling stations (96 per cent) were accessible to persons with disability and the elderly.
At the time of set up, 94 per cent of CODEO Stationary Observers reported that there were polling agents representing candidates at the polling stations.
CODEO Stationary Observers reported seeing uniformed security personnel at post at 80 per cent of polling stations.
Reports received from CODEO Stationary Observers showed that in 82 per cent of the polling stations, all election materials were available at the time of opening. In 16 per cent of polling stations, tactile ballots were absent, while two per cent of the polling stations had no endorsing ink and ballot boxes.
CODEO Stationary Observers reported that all polling stations (100 per cent) had biometric verification machines at the time of setup.
At 99 per cent of polling stations, CODEO Stationary Observers could confirm that the DLE and the Unit Committee Elections (UCE) ballot boxes were shown to be empty, sealed and placed in public view before the commencement of voting.
General Observations
Reports received from CODEO Observers also suggested that voting started smoothly at all the polling stations in the districts which were being observed.
However, CODEO Observers reported minor incidents, such as intimidation and harassment, disruption of the voting process, and breakdown of biometric devices at some polling stations.
In general, although CODEO Observers reported that biometric voting devices were functioning well at polling stations observed, there were recorded cases of breakdown of the devices at others.
These temporary breakdowns were, however, resolved promptly and did not have any major impact on the voting process.
Advertisement
The affected stations included RC Primary School Polling Centre in the Nyamekrom Electoral Area, New Juabeng Municipality in the Eastern Region, and the Presby Primary School polling station of the Abepotia/Odumase Electoral Area in the Kwahu West Municipality in the Eastern Region.
At MA Primary School polling station at Abetensu in the Nkawanda/Kwahu Jejeti Electoral Area in the Eastern Region, data on the Biometric device did not match the voter’s register.
At the Biribiwoman D/A JHS polling station at the Amansie Central in the Ashanti Region, voting was suspended for almost an hour because a candidate’s name was spelt wrongly.
At Nkyenekyene Electoral Area in the Kwahu South District in the Eastern Region, voting was disrupted because demonstrators demanded that government fulfilled promises made to them during the 2012 elections. At the time of filing this report, although the demonstration had been called off, the demonstrators were threatening to deal with anyone who showed up to vote.
Advertisement