According to the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana, a ballot paper is rejected when a voter drops it inside the ballot box without thumb-printing beside any of the candidates or wrongfully thumb-printing during the process of voting.
Usually, some people end up touching the ballot paper with the small finger that is dipped in the indelible ink while others ignorantly vote two candidates on one ballot instead of the other for a parliamentary candidate on a separate ballot. When these happen, the ballot is spoiled and hence rejected during counting. Below is a simple procedure to help you in voting.
LOCATE YOUR POLLING STATION
As the election has started in your polling station, you would need to first of all locate where your polling station is. The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana makes sure everyone finds his or her polling station easily. Announcements will be made for persons to know where they are supposed to vote.
JOIN THE QUEUE
While you wait for your turn in the queue, make sure you keep your hand clean and dry as much as possible. You can go with a clean handkerchief so that you can ensure that your hand is kept clean and dry all the time. This will also ensure a quick recognition of your finger print on the Biometric Verification Machine.
CHECK FOR & VERIFY YOUR NAME IN THE REGISTER
Comply with the process and get yourself verified as a credible voter on the Biometric Verification Machine. Feel free to ask any question or anything about the process you don’t understand at this stage.
INDELIBLE INK
The EC official knows which finger to dip in the indelible ink. Few seconds after your finger is dipped inside the indelible ink, you are allowed to use a dry handkerchief to dry the finger. This does not clean the ink from your hand. It is better you go with your own handkerchief since most often, the provided handkerchief or rags after continuous use become very dirty and wet.
TAKE THE BALLOT PAPER & MAKE SURE IT’S CLEAN
Check and make sure the ballot paper you are given is clean and devoid of any dropped ink or any stroke from a pen or pencil.
VOTE ONE CANDIDATE ONLY ON THE PAPER (PRESIDENTIAL)
Try as much as possible not to touch the ballot paper with the finger dipped into the indelible ink.
On the presidential ballot paper, vote only one candidate by pressing your thumb on the ink pad and then pressing it for your candidate. In this case, look for John Dramani Mahama and locate the party symbol beside his picture.
Turn your thumb in a way that it does not cross into the next box for another candidate.
CLEAN YOUR THUMB BEFORE FOLDING PAPER
After voting, clean your thumb very well before you fold the paper. Sometimes, the ballot paper is spoiled after a wrongful touching of the thumb after voting. (Note: There might be some ink left on the thumb even after voting). Take your time and clean any ink, sweat or anything else in your palm.
DROP IN BALLOT BOX
After receiving your Ballot paper and casting your vote, you would need to drop the paper in the ballot box for counting.
REPEAT PROCESS FOR PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE
Get the ballot paper for the parliamentary election and repeat the process for that one too. Make sure to check the ballot paper when given, thumbprint for the desired presidential or parliamentary candidate (look for the party symbol, the umbrella when not sure of the person) and vote for the candidate accordingly. Make sure you clean your thumb, before folding the ballot paper the right way.
RETURN HOME PEACEFULLY
After the whole process, go home peacefully while you wait for the results to be counted after 5pm when the polls are over. You can go back to the polling station after 5pm if you want to witness the counting process.
