EC releases guidelines for 2016 polls

As the EC gears up to release names of qualified Presidential and Parliamentary Candidates for the 2016 polls, it has come out with a guide in electioneering, for candidates and their agents. 

The manual also lists electoral offences and says anyone culpable may be fined, imprisoned or face both, disqualified from voting or even barred from ever holding a public office. 

The EC says in relation to elections, it is an offence to attempt to vote before the poll officially opens, or after it closes.

To vote or attempt to vote if a person is not qualified to do so. 

A person may also be liable in voting or attempting to vote in the name of another person, living, dead or fictitious. 

EC says it is also an offence to put anything other than a ballot paper into a ballot box when an election is in progress. 

You can also find yourself imprison, if you obstruct, or interfere with the work of an election officer, impede, or prevent a voter from freely exercising his/her right to vote or you use, threaten to use force or violence against a person or group of persons for election purposes.

Besides ensuring that polling agents respect the rights of voters at all times, agents cannot inspect the identity cards of persons who are in queue to vote. 

Furthermore, agents must not give orders to the election staff or in any way interfere with or disrupt their work.

Above all agents must not handle any election material without the authorization of the Presiding officer during elections.
 
The Electoral Commission is hopeful that candidates and polling agents will play their respective roles dutifully and in good faith to ensure a peaceful electoral process.

EC Chairperson, Charlotte Osei has already sent out a clear message that achieving free, fair, credible and transparent election is not only the responsibility of the Commission, but equally the collective responsibility of candidates and their agents, as well as all citizens of Ghana.


GBC