[ 2016-08-22 ]

NPP upset over voter registration in prisons
The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has
criticized the Electoral Commission over a
scheduled voter registration exercise in the
prisons ahead of the 2016 general election without
notification to the political parties.

NPP in a letter dated August 21, 2016 and signed
by the party’s Acting General Secretary, John
Boadu to the EC, has observed that the Commission
is commencing voter registration in prisons across
the country per letters from some District
offices.

The exercise is intended to get names of prisoners
of voting age unto the electoral roll for the
December 7 polls.

But the main opposition party is worried the
process can be abused as it is taking place
without the Commission notifying the political
parties for them to effectively monitor the
exercise as has been the practice.

“We would have wished that much as the C.I 91
grants this activity of the Commission in
consultation with political parties, the parties
would have been duly notified/consulted before any
such decisions are taken,” NPP pointed out in a
statement.
Consequently, the NPP has requested the
country’s election management body to explain
how the voter registration is being done in the
prisons nationwide.

Below is NPP’s full statement:

CONCERNS OVER ONGOING PROCESSES LEADING TO THE
2016 GENERAL ELECTIONS

We wish to bring to the attention of the
Commission some concerns for urgent redress as we
prepare towards the 2016 General Election.

1. We have observed that the Commission is
commencing voter registration in prisons across
the country per letters emanating from some
District offices. However, there has been no
notification to political parties to inform them
and have the opportunity to monitor this process
as has been the practice.

2. We request to know what modalities are in
place towards foreign registrations for this
year’s election as well as particulars of the
existing foreign registrations done earlier by the
Commission.

3. We note a release from the Commission on
challenges encountered with the ongoing Continuous
Voter Registration on the 19h August exercise and
the decision to extend the registration hours to
8pm on that day and an additional day extension to
the 27th of August 2016.
We would have wished that much as the C.I 91
grants this activity of the Commission in
consultation with political parties, the parties
would have been duly notified/consulted before any
such decisions are taken.

4. The procedures announced for proxy vote has to
be reviewed. The Commission directs that a
prospective proxy can go to the Commission and
pick up forms for the applicant. This should not
be the case because of the inherent abuse.

I refer to Regulation 25 (2) of C.I 94 which
states that “The applicant shall complete a
proxy form set out in Form Six of the Schedule”.
What this means is that nobody can make or
complete proxy forms on behalf of an applicant.

The Commission has also decided to do this
exercise at all district offices and adds the
headquarters of the Commission. One wonders why
the EC headquarters must be part of this as it’s
not even a registration center. We want the
Commission to engage with the Parties on this
exercise to ensure effective monitoring.

An early response to the concerns is anticipated.
As a stakeholder, we would wish to receive formal
correspondence from the commission on activities
that we are required to play a part instead of
through the media, so as to help in getting our
members and the general public to participate
fully.

As we approach the election, it is expected that
the Commission would be more transparent and
ensure inclusiveness of stakeholders in its
activities.

Sincerely,

John Boadu General Secretary(Ag.)

Cc: All Political Parties

The Media

Source - citifmonline.com

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