The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), has asked the Electoral Commission (EC) to be consistent in using biometric verification during exhibition exercises.
This was contained in a statement issued by the coalition and signed by its National Coordinator, Albert Arhin.
The statement highlights the observations made by CODEO during the recent exhibition of the voter’s register within 47 districts to be affected by the impending creation of additional regions in the country.
The exercise was part of preparations by the EC to organize a referendum on December 27, 2018, in the four (4) regions of Western, Brong Ahafo, Volta and Northern – out of which six (6) additional regions would be created.
Highlights of CODEO’s main findings
- Overall, observers reported that the exercise was peaceful and marked by low publicity and patronage. Public response in the first few days was generally low but picked up in the latter days of the exercise. Turn-out varied from exhibition center to exhibition center and on different days. At some polling stations, it was as low as less than 10 persons in a day and as high as over 50 persons on others days at other exhibition centers.
- EC officials generally complied with the rules governing the conduct of the exhibition exercise.
- Observers further noted that exhibition centers generally had the requisite forms and materials for the exercise.
- There were, however, no biometric verification devices present at exhibition centers despite the EC’s introduction of the device during the previous 2016 voter register exhibition.
- Most exhibition centers did not have party agents stationed. At some exhibition centers in the Krachi West district of the Volta region, however, there were party agents from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) observing the exercise. Similarly, there were party agents from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the NPP at some exhibition centers in the Chereponi district in the Northern region.
- Observers noted that there were very few requests for correction and inclusion of names on the register. There were also a few objections to names in the register and this was often on grounds of persons being deceased. In the Chereponi district in the Northern region, for example, some local leaders and actors, including an Assembly member, traditional leaders, opinion leaders and some family members cooperated with the EC’s exhibition officials on the removal of names of deceased family and community members from the voter register.
General observations, commendations and recommendations
- CODEO is disappointed that once again, political parties did not show much interest and did not attach much importance to this exercise by failing to deploy their agents to monitor the exercise.
- CODEO, however, commends some local level actors in Chereponi district of the Northern region who cooperated with the EC in removing names of dead relatives and community members.
- CODEO urges other local level actors across the country to show similar cooperation in future exercises.
- CODEO urges the EC to be consistent with the practice of using biometric verification during exhibition exercises as recommended by the electoral reforms committee to help identify challenges associated with the use of these devices before election day.
- Finally, CODEO calls on the EC to intensify publicity ahead of such electoral activities.
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By: citinewsroom.com | Ghana
The post Be consistent in using biometric verification for exhibition exercises – CODEO to EC appeared first on Citi Newsroom.
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