As the nation braces itself for the upcoming 2024 elections, the Electoral Commission (EC) has unveiled a comprehensive calendar, marking significant milestones in the electoral journey ahead.
With anticipation running high, the EC has declared that it will commence accepting nominations from presidential and parliamentary hopefuls from September 9 to 13, 2024, setting the stage for what promises to be a riveting political spectacle later in the year.
Following the nomination period, the EC has slated the balloting for positions on the presidential ballot paper for September 23, 2024, with parliamentary candidates’ balloting scheduled for the following day, September 24, 2024.
A pivotal aspect of the electoral process, the voters’ registration exercise, is set to kick off from May 7 to May 27, 2024. Preceding this crucial step is an extensive 56-day public education campaign, starting April 1, designed to equip and inform the electorate for the registration process.
Moreover, the EC has announced plans to address the issue of missing voter ID cards nationwide, initiating replacement procedures starting May 30, 2024.
In a bid to ensure transparency and inclusivity, political parties are slated to receive the provisional voters’ register between July 9 and 18, followed by a public exhibition from July 15 to 24, 2024. The final voters’ register will then be submitted to the parties by late August to early September.
Engagement with various stakeholders remains a priority for the EC, with meetings and the “Let the Citizen Know” series aimed at fostering trust and eliminating suspicions among both the electorate and political parties.
Special Voting, catering to security agencies and accredited media practitioners, is scheduled for December 2, 2024, ahead of the main election day on December 7, 2024. While the law doesn’t mandate a specific timeframe for the declaration of election results, the EC has pledged to announce presidential results within a three-day window, underscoring its commitment to efficiency and transparency.
Regional Collation Centres will continue to play a vital role in announcing regional-level results, further streamlining the electoral process.
The meticulously planned calendar reflects the EC’s dedication to conducting a seamless electoral process, albeit with the flexibility to adapt to unforeseen challenges.
However, concerns have been raised by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over the delay in the EC’s release of the timetable for the 2024 general elections. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, the party’s Director of Elections and IT, urged the EC to expedite preparations in an open letter shared on social media, dated March 1, 2024.
As the nation awaits the unfolding of events, all eyes are on the EC as it steers the course towards the highly anticipated 2024 elections.
