Talensi Decides Today In A By-Election About 39,500 eligible voters are expected to vote in 34 polling stations in the Talensi Constituency today. Eight out of nine political parties have so far been captured on the ballot papers for the by-election. The Talensi by-election has been hyped as a dress rehearsal for the 2016 general elections. The governing party is eager to trump up a win as there is evidence that it still has considerable advantage. The opposition NPP is also anxious to church victory as a sign of an impending political tsunami in December next year. The Talensi seat became vacant after the incumbent NPP MP Robert Mosore was installed Paramount Chief of the area. The new Chairperson of the Electoral Commission Charlotte Osei is in the Upper East Region to monitor and supervise the Talensi by-election slated for Tuesday. This will be her first major national assignment upon assumption of office. The Electoral Commission says it has sorted out all electoral materials and they have been deployed to the 74 polling stations in Talensi for the by-election. Meanwhile, the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers, CODEO has expressed optimism that the Electoral Commission will conduct a fair by-election in Talensi. It says the Commission has over the years proved itself to be a credible entity which has helped to shape Ghana's democracy. Speaking to Radio Ghana on its role in the election, a member of CODEO who is also the Coordinator of CDD for Northern Ghana, Paul Osei Kufuor said CODEO has deployed a number of observers across the polling centres to observe proceedings. In a related development, the Police say they are not leaving anything to chance so far as Tuesday’s by-election in Talensi is concerned. Upper East Regional Police P.R.O ASP Thomas Agbanyo said at least two Police Officers will be deployed to each of the 74 polling stations. He said there will be patrols and stand by teams to provide adequate security during the voting, counting, and collation of ballots. GBC