Rejected Ballots, the Unacceptable Devil in Ghanaian Politics

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• manb-usa 11 years ago

  that is a good idea , but there is the risk of a voter voting two candidates if left alone the remaining unchosen ballots should be counted face down before the voter proceed to vote.

  that is a good idea , but there is the risk of a voter voting two candidates if left alone the remaining unchosen ballots should be counted face down before the voter proceed to vote.

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• KBK 11 years ago

  This is a very important topic. The percentage of ballots rejected is too high - going by the author's figures. They are unacceptable. Levels well under 0.5% will be ok for a developing country like ours.
  
  But the author d ...
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  This is a very important topic. The percentage of ballots rejected is too high - going by the author's figures. They are unacceptable. Levels well under 0.5% will be ok for a developing country like ours.
  
  But the author doesn't suggest workable solutions. He probably doesn't know himself how to reduce the problem. His idea of no marking and the destruction of choices not made is unclear and doesn't look like workable. Perhaps it will require a complete restricting of the voting system. We may not even have the funds for that.
  
  As for saying NCCE should increase it's efforts at educating the voting public, that is really not a suggestion. Everybody knows that.
  
  Perhaps we need to make more studies as to why and how people make mistakes and identify the commonest mistakes. It is from this knowledge that we can tailor corrective measures.
  
  But I think this is an important topic.

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• Stephen-Pipes Afrifa 11 years ago

  Oh such a good and educative article. Rejected ballots are causing a great setback in our general elections. However, but, there is fairly large illiteracy rate in the country. Public education on voting is sidelined and I ...
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  Oh such a good and educative article. Rejected ballots are causing a great setback in our general elections. However, but, there is fairly large illiteracy rate in the country. Public education on voting is sidelined and I personally don't see what the NCCE did in the 2012 elections.
  
  They sat on radio and in vans whiles they speak English which an old lady at Mpasatia doesn't know what they mean by their "English" . Public education in local dialects with practical demonstration is the best way as suggested by the author.
  
  In my view the multiple ballot papers with each candidates particulars for an electorate to choose will also cause a great mess, for example the old men and women can suffer a phobia psychologically .
  
  The NCCE and political parties must act now with regards to the author's suggestions.

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• Richmond Afrifa 11 years ago

  This is very important to be implemented.Citizens must be educated to prevent all these mistakes.

  This is very important to be implemented.Citizens must be educated to prevent all these mistakes.

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• Haningay 11 years ago

  Ghanaians have now astute and wise up when it comes to these critical tactics when it comes to sitting Govt ganging up with the electorate to fraud the elections via rejected ballot papers.

  Ghanaians have now astute and wise up when it comes to these critical tactics when it comes to sitting Govt ganging up with the electorate to fraud the elections via rejected ballot papers.

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• AFARI GYAN 11 years ago

  The rejected ballots are too much for me. Since I have no idea about what to do about it, I hang my gloves. I resign with immediate effect from today. I will go in peace to enjoy my riches. Whoever is appointed in my place mu ...
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  The rejected ballots are too much for me. Since I have no idea about what to do about it, I hang my gloves. I resign with immediate effect from today. I will go in peace to enjoy my riches. Whoever is appointed in my place must be someone with AFARI in his name.

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• Schengen 11 years ago

  Don't worry, Afari-Gyan will go on retirement next year. He has even passed his statutory requirement age. He won't supervise the next general elections.
  
  But the problems with our elections are not really Afari-Gyan's faul ...
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  Don't worry, Afari-Gyan will go on retirement next year. He has even passed his statutory requirement age. He won't supervise the next general elections.
  
  But the problems with our elections are not really Afari-Gyan's fault. It is because we are under-developed and cannot keep adequate statistics that will form the basis of our elections.
  
  I hope the next EC chairman/woman will be a real statistician who knows about collecting statistics.
  
  If Afari-Gyan, who is 70, must retire due to old age, then people like Akufo-Addo, who is also 70 and will be 72 in 2016, should not be allowed anywhere near the presidency. Time to let our youth take over important posts in the country.

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• KENNEDY AGYAPONG 11 years ago

  How do we solve this problem of rejected ballots and spoiled ballots? I think the author's suggestion to prevent rejected ballots must be taken seriously. I hope the Electoral Commissioner is reading this important article.Ke ...
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  How do we solve this problem of rejected ballots and spoiled ballots? I think the author's suggestion to prevent rejected ballots must be taken seriously. I hope the Electoral Commissioner is reading this important article.Kennedy.

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• ghanaman 11 years ago

  The article raises a very important issue, namely that of rejected ballots. They are become more significant with time.

  The article raises a very important issue, namely that of rejected ballots. They are become more significant with time.

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• pochoo 11 years ago

  Right on point. I not wish the average Ghanaian voter would also have this understanding before the next major vote. Thank you for this enlightenment

  Right on point. I not wish the average Ghanaian voter would also have this understanding before the next major vote. Thank you for this enlightenment

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• Kwamemajor 11 years ago

  It's sad that such a huge number of electorate are still excluded from the decision making process. Let's all partner and seriously educate the electorate; this will definitely transform future elections. Great work, Director ...
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  It's sad that such a huge number of electorate are still excluded from the decision making process. Let's all partner and seriously educate the electorate; this will definitely transform future elections. Great work, Director!

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• REV DENNIS N. D. DODOO 9 years ago

  Ghana need to eradicate this rejected Bollot devil, but nothing has been done about it, just because we do not know the causes. As a former Agent and Presiding Officer years ago, I have come to the realization that this devil ...
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  Ghana need to eradicate this rejected Bollot devil, but nothing has been done about it, just because we do not know the causes. As a former Agent and Presiding Officer years ago, I have come to the realization that this devil in Ghanaian politics can be eradicated. The cause emanate from quality of ink and availability, wrong method of Tumb printing, negligent of the voter, discretion of the PO and attitude of the voters present during the counting. Together we can address and eliminate this devil. Getting the right channel to explain further is my challenge.

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