The Electoral Commission (EC) says it will maintain its cluster method for the upcoming voter registration exercise although the time spent in each cluster is expected to reduce. Each registration team will work for six days in each phase within a cluster, a reduction from the initial 10 days outlined for the registration exercise which was postponed from April 18 because of the coronavirus pandemic. The mop-up exercise has also reduced from five to three days. The registration will take place at all the 33,367 polling stations, which will serve as registration centers nationwide.
Outlining its plan for the exercise in a statement signed by the Acting Director of Public Affairs Sylvia Annor which it says will start in the last week of June, the Commission explained that the registration will be done simultaneously in all constituencies nationwide with each cluster consisting of five registration centres.
The registration period will have five phases with each Registration Team working for a period of six (6) days in each phase within the cluster. There will be a day set aside, “to assemble and prepare the materials for the next phase.
All eligible voters will be given instant voter ID cards when they register, except in cases where applications have been challenged. There will be a pilot exercise at different locations in all 16 regions, as well as at the national level at the EC’s Head office in Accra.
The statement explained that the exercise is aimed at identifying possible problems associated with the new system, and find ways of mitigating them. It will also help to study and ascertain the environmental impact on the VMS in respect to the weather (wet, dry, heat, and rust) conditions amongst others. The Commission says it will put in safety measures at each registration centre to ensure the safety of all applicants and registration officials during the exercise.
