The Takoradi branch of the Pentecost International Worship Center (PIWC), a ministry of the Church of Pentecost (COP) has partnered with the Western Regional Directorate of the Electoral Commission (EC) to educate members on the processes of voting and other voting related activities.
Speaking at a church service last Sunday, Madam Effe Wilson, Takoradi District Officer of the EC mentioned personal voting, proxy voting and special voting as the types of votes.
She gave the processes of voting as voter exhibition prior to elections, going with a credible voters ID card, joining a queue, checking of name by Reference Officer followed by a verification by a Verification Officer.
Madam Wilson took the members through how ballot papers are folded and how thumbprints are done and said, “folding should be done vertically to avoid rejection or spoiling of the ballot paper”.
She announced that a registered voter who is a student or a member of the Security Services on special duties and is a resident in a Constituency other than that in which he/she registered, may apply to the Returning Officer of the Constituency where he/she is resident for his/her name to be entered onto the Transferred Voters List of a Polling Station in that Constituency.
She touched on Proxy voting procedures and said a registered voter who due to ill-health or absence from the constituency will be unable to vote on the polling day, may apply to the Returning Officer of the Constituency or the Commission for the name of the selected proxy to be entered onto the Proxy List.
“As such, “The applicant shall complete a Proxy Form in quadruplicate. The Proxy Form would be endorsed by the Returning Officer and a copy will be given to the said Applicant”, she explained.
Madam Wilson explained internal transfers as transferring one’s vote from one Polling Center to another Polling Center within the same Constituency or District and said that is not allowed because they have the tendency to put some candidates at a disadvantage.
She reiterated the need to guard the peace that we are enjoying by preaching it, pursuing it cautiously and praying to support it.
According to her, it is an offence to remain at the Polling Center after voting within the radius of 100 meters but if you can go beyond that you are free to do so.
“After going through the voting process leave the center and go home. But you may go home and come later after 5:00pm to monitor”, she cautioned.
Madam Wilson therefore urged the electorates to do well to go to the Polling Center before the closing time to avoid lateness so as to exercise their franchise.
She further urged the electorates to feel free to ask for clarifications and any question bordering them from the Returning Officer.
Story: Seth Ameyaw danquah
