EC asks voters not to photograph thumb printed ballot papers

Mrs Pauline Adobea Dadzawa an Electoral Commissioner, on Thursday called on voters not to carry mobile phones and other objects on the voting day in an attempt to take shots of their thumb printed ballots.

She said the practice is unacceptable, undermines the secrecy of voting and could induce others to vote for people they did not intend voting for.

She explained that although taking shots of thumb printed ballot papers is not against the law it is not right for any voter to do anything that could be a source of conflict on the election day.

Mrs Dadzawa made the call in Cape Coast, at the opening of a two-day workshop organised by the Electoral Commission (EC), in collaboration with the USAID for journalists in the Central Region.

The Workshop aimed at educating the media on the electoral process and the role they should play to enhance peaceful and credible elections was on the theme: “Enhancing effective media participation in Elections.”

Mrs Dadzawa asked the media to join in the education of the public particularly parents not to allow their under aged children who managed to register to vote.

She stressed that it is against the law for minors to vote.

She underscored the important role the media play in the credibility of elections and urged them to be circumspect in their reportage by giving correct and timely reports.

Mrs Dadzawa asked the journalists to endeavour to use the appropriate terms and facts of the electoral process and procedures to inform and educate the public.

Mrs Philomena Edusei, Regional Director of the EC commended the participants for their interest and enthusiasm in the work of the EC.

The participants would treat topics like, appointments and responsibilities of returning officers, qualities of a good returning officer, and nomination of candidates for presidential and parliamentary elections, setting and publication of election day, provision of polling station, voting process and procedure after the polls.