Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the registration exercise for the new voter roll would commence in the last week of June, this year.
It is expected that by the last week of June, when the registration is to begin, the C.I which is currently before Parliament would have matured.
In line with the requirements of the law, the political parties have been assured that they would be informed of the exact date, not later than 21 days before the start of the exercise
The decision was arrived at Wednesday’s Inter-Party Advisory Committee’s (IPAC) meeting, held at the head office of the Electoral Commission (EC).
Information gathered by this paper from the meeting indicated that the nationwide voter registration would last 40 days, subject to review.
The EC is said to have procured all the necessary technology/equipment for the nationwide registration exercise, and has begun training its officials across the country in readiness for it.
At the yesterday’s meeting, the EC is said to have informed the IPAC that all was set for the deployment of a new biometric voter registration technology, which will lead to the compilation of a new register.
The meeting is said to have discussed that owing to the Covid-19 situation, and the need to adhere to the health protocols, the EC had procured enough Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
The Commission says it is committed to rolling out the necessary protocols towards a safe and secure 2020 voter registration exercise, which it had already made public.
The previous minutes of the IPAC meeting held on March 25,, this paper gathered, was read at the meeting and showed clearly that an extensive discussion was held on the EC’s preparations towards the impending nationwide voter registration exercise.
The minutes is said to have stated in parts: “The Deputy Chairman in charge of Operations, Mr. Samuel Tettey, stated that the main purpose of the IPAC meeting was to brief stakeholders on the Commission’s preparations towards the impending nationwide Biometric Voters Registration Exercise.”
The minutes also reflected on the contributions made by representatives of the political parties for incorporation into the C.I., which had, at the time, been withdrawn from Parliament and brought to the IPAC.
According to the EC, it was consequent to the March 25 meeting that the C.I. was re-laid in Parliament on March 31, after the Commission had included the suggestions made by the political parties that attended the 25th March IPAC meeting.
This is in sharp contrast with the claims by the NDC, which boycotted this 25th March meeting, yet claimed that the EC did not consult the political parties before it laid the current C.I. in parliament.
However, the NDC again boycotted yesterday’s IPAC meeting, even though it was officially invited, The Chronicle learnt.
The post All set for new voter registration in June appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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