A silent political movement: The “spoilt ballots party”

By Nana Osei Piesie-Anto, Socio-Political Analyst

Since the inception of the 4th Republic in 1993, Ghana has held nine general elections, resulting in the transfer of political power between the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP). These transitions have been made possible through the ballots cast by registered citizens exercising their democratic rights.

A worrying trend in Ghana’s elections, however, is the persistent presence of a silent political grouping known as the “Spoilt Ballots Party” or “The Third Force.” This group has consistently claimed the third position after every presidential election, though without formal recognition or honor.

A spoilt or rejected ballot refers to any ballot paper on which a vote has been cast and dropped into the box by a voter, but which is deemed unfit to be counted due to improper markings or thumb-printing. Common errors leading to rejection include:

No mark on the ballot paper.
More than the required number of marks.
Marking with unapproved ink.
Having marks that are not official.
Thumb-printing across lines separating candidates.
Wrong folding of the ballot paper.
Absence of an official mark or stamp from the Electoral Commission.
Historical Data on Rejected Ballots
The history of rejected ballots has raised significant concerns among political experts due to its negative impact on election outcomes. Over the years, rejected ballots have been recorded as follows:

1992: 149,813 rejected ballots

1996: 111,108 rejected ballots

2000: 119,372 rejected ballots

2004: 188,123 rejected ballots

2008: 205,843 rejected ballots

2012: 243,280 rejected ballots

2016: 167,349 rejected ballots

2020: 313,379 rejected ballots

2024: 239,109 rejected ballots

Despite efforts by political parties to educate voters on proper voting methods, state institutions mandated by the 1992 Constitution to provide voter education have largely failed to fulfill their roles, leaving many voters unaware of the correct processes.

Failures of State Institutions
The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) is constitutionally tasked with promoting awareness of the Constitution, encouraging citizens to defend it, and educating the public on their civic rights and responsibilities. However, the NCCE has cited inadequate funding as a major challenge to performing its duties.

Similarly, the Non-Formal Education Division of the Ministry of Education, which is mandated to run a free adult literacy program under Article 38(3d), has had its Functional Literacy Programme discontinued due to a lack of World Bank funding.

The Electoral Commission (EC), under Article 45(d), is also required to educate the public on the electoral process. Unfortunately, the EC has focused more on defending its mandate through press conferences and adverts, rather than engaging in proper voter education.

The Way Forward

The high incidence of rejected ballots has far-reaching consequences, potentially invalidating the votes of citizens who intended to participate meaningfully in the democratic process. To address this issue, the following measures are recommended:

Intensified Public Education: Begin voter education campaigns at least four months before elections, using print, electronic media, and outreach programs in rural and peri-urban communities, which form a significant portion of the electorate.

Trained Electoral Officials: Recruit and train electoral officials who are dedicated to the national interest, rather than partisan agendas. Teachers, by their widespread presence and professional expertise, could play a key role in educating voters and supervising elections.

Revive Functional Literacy Programmes: Reinstate these programs to improve the voting capacity of non-literate citizens.
Adequately Resource the NCCE: Provide sufficient funding to enable the NCCE to perform its constitutional mandate effectively.
Introduce Electronic Voting: With over 50% of the electorate considered non-literate, the EC should explore electronic voting systems to eliminate errors associated with thumb-printing. Innovations like the voting device developed by students of Obuasi Secondary Technical School could be further refined by institutions like the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

The “Spoilt Ballots Party” has no formal registration or recognition with the Electoral Commission. However, its consistent presence as a “third force” in elections underscores the urgent need for reforms. All stakeholders must work collectively to eliminate this phenomenon, ensuring that every vote cast is properly counted and reflects the true will of the people.

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