Voter exhibition officers in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis are sounding the alarm over low turnout during the first two days of the Electoral Commission’s ongoing voter register exhibition. The officers are calling for increased public awareness to encourage more registered voters to participate in the exercise, which runs from August 20 to 27, 2024.
At polling stations located at Takoradi Presbyterian Church and Takoradi Technical University, each with over 1,000 registered voters, fewer than 50 visitors were recorded. This low turnout is not unique to the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis, as similar trends were observed in the Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions on the first day of the exercise.
The voter register exhibition provides an opportunity for registered voters to request inclusions, object to entries, and remove the names of deceased individuals, among other actions. Despite its importance, the exercise has failed to attract the expected number of participants, prompting concerns among voter exhibition officers.
One officer expressed disappointment at the low turnout, stating, “Yesterday, we recorded a number of 27 for three polling stations. Today, as of 9:00 am, we’ve recorded just two.” The officer attributed the low turnout to a lack of education and awareness about the importance of the exercise, saying, “I think education should be sent out more, so people can come and register.”
Another factor contributing to the low turnout, according to the officer, is the availability of a shortcode for checking one’s name online, which may have led some voters to assume they do not need to physically attend the exhibition. The officer emphasized the need for voters to participate in the exercise, saying, “We are also pleading with them that they should come and register.”
